The Ministry says the National Universities Commission never issued such declarations or authenticated the circulating list of alleged fake professors.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed viral reports claiming that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in the country.
In a press release dated November 14, 2026, and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Ministry described the reports as false and misleading, warning that they could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s university system.
The Ministry quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, as stating categorically that the NUC had never declared that Nigeria had 2,000 universities.
It also clarified that the Commission had neither published nor endorsed or authenticated the list of individuals currently circulating on social media as alleged fake professors.
According to the Ministry, the claims about fake professors originated from a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019. The original report concerned an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.
However, the Ministry stressed that the 2019 report did not contain the names currently being circulated and that the NUC had since disowned the list.
The Ministry expressed concern over what it described as the persistent recycling of misinformation, saying such claims could damage the reputation of Nigerian universities and undermine ongoing efforts to improve the country’s education sector.
It urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the circulating claims and verify information about recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working with the NUC to protect academic integrity, strengthen quality assurance and safeguard the credibility and international reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
Source: Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria — Press Release, November 14, 2026.
📢 FOLLOW ALFIJIR LABARAI
Stay connected with Alfijir Labarai / Alfijir News for credible news, reports, investigative journalism, and important updates from Kano, Nigeria, and around the world.
📩 CONTACT US & PARTNERSHIP ENQUIRIES
Call/WhatsApp: +234 701 1 11 3809
+234 803 207 7835
🌐 OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
X: https://twitter.com/Musabestseller?s=09
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089640289165
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alfijirlabarai
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BestsellerChannel12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musa_bestseller?utm_source=qr&r=nametag
📲 JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ilj1iz8v3sa3nBfrCz9U6f
ALFIJIR LABARAI MEDIA SERVICES
Truth • Timeliness • Trust
© 2026 Alfijir Labarai Media Services