By Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu
Until Tuesday morning, the 7th day of October, he sat in the comfort of his office in Abuja and enjoyed the title of “Honourable Minister.” He was, and indeed had been, one of the chosen few that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed into the Federal Cabinet in August 2023 to form a team that would lead the country under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Supposedly, he and all others who were lucky to be selected had passed through a screening exercise which the Senate, as the upper chamber of the legislature, has the constitutional duty to conduct. Nigerians would recall that Nasir El-Rufai, the enfant terrible of our politics, was one of the ministerial candidates who could not scale through that same test—despite his confidence and his claim that the President was bringing him on board to help fix Nigeria’s electricity problem.
Starting from Beta Edu, who as APC National Women’s Leader secured her ministerial post to handle Poverty Alleviation matters, a few others had soon been shown the exit door. Some were dismissed; others, reshuffled. Yet, none of those changes affected our man from the East—until last Tuesday. His name: Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, from Enugu State.
It is never in the character of many big men and women in Nigeria to resign voluntarily, even when overwhelming evidence demands it. Nnaji, the now dishonourable Minister for Innovation, Science, and Technology, did what Nigerian big men do—sit tight initially. But when the bubble burst in the media that Nnaji belonged to the class of certificate forgers, he had to think twice—or was made to do so.
Initially, Nnaji had tried to prevent the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from releasing his academic records and transcript. When he failed, he resigned—perhaps compelled by higher authorities. Nigerians never doubted that he once attended UNN; the question was whether the certificate he flaunted was actually issued by that “Lion-roaring” campus. That was where the story he presented to the Senate in August 2023 began to unravel. Eventually, he had no choice but to step down. Whichever way he exited his Olympian height, a price must always be paid for wrongdoing—against God or against man.
Since the return to civil rule in 1999, the gale of certificate forgery has flourished. It began with Salisu Buhari, the 29-year-old who bulldozed his way into becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999, only to be exposed within two months. Then came the case of Senate President Evans (or “Evan”) Enwerem, whose name and certificate discrepancies embarrassed the entire legislature. Even President Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos State, had his own share of controversy—questions about which schools he attended in Nigeria and whether it was the University of Chicago or Chicago State University abroad.
Over the years, politicians such as Aminu Masari and others have faced similar allegations. Every election cycle seems to throw up a new forgery scandal. In 2020, certificate issues derailed the Bayelsa State inauguration; in Edo State, the issue was weaponized against Governor Godwin Obaseki. Forgery has become a recurring tool for political warfare and a stain on our democracy.
Beyond politics, certificate forgery breeds mediocrity and impunity. It devalues honest work, discourages integrity, and ruins the moral fabric of governance. It also drives a culture where deceit replaces merit—robbing Nigeria of competence, credibility, and justice.
It is time for Nigerian leaders to balance our linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity with national unity, integrity, and character. The Nigeria we desire must be built on truth. Forgery must be not only discouraged but criminally punished. People like Uche Nnaji must not just resign—they must refund all salaries and benefits received during their tenure. The President must ensure he does not leave the country until investigations are complete. Those who signed or validated the fake documents should also face prosecution.
If we want the Gen Z Nigerians—who are beginning to have renewed hope in their country—to believe in leadership, we must set the right examples. This is the time to restore character, discipline, and truth to public service.
This Uche Nnaji has not been honourable to Nigeria. He does not deserve pity. We are sure many will think along with us.
— Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu
