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The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned from office amid mounting allegations of certificate forgery and questions surrounding his academic qualifications.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday accepted Nnaji’s resignation, which comes after weeks of controversy over claims that the minister presented forged university and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates.
Nnaji, appointed in August 2023, confirmed his resignation in a letter to the President, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve and describing the forgery allegations as the handiwork of political detractors bent on tarnishing his image.
“I have been a target of blackmail by political opponents. However, I believe stepping aside at this moment will allow me to clear my name without unnecessary distractions to the administration,” Nnaji wrote in his resignation letter.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu acknowledged the minister’s decision and thanked him for his service to the nation.
“The President has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology. President Tinubu appreciates his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” the statement read.
Nnaji’s exit follows sustained public scrutiny over his academic records, after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned a Bachelor of Science certificate purportedly issued to him in 1985.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, had clarified that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and, therefore, was never awarded a degree.
Similarly, questions were raised about the authenticity of the NYSC certificate presented by the former minister, with reports suggesting that the national service body could not trace his record in its archives.
The matter is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Nnaji is seeking to compel UNN to release his academic transcripts and clarify discrepancies in his student records.
With this development, Nnaji becomes the first minister in the Tinubu administration to resign over a certificate-related controversy.
The Presidency is yet to announce a replacement or designate an acting head for the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
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