By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced a new digital verification system on Thursday to strengthen academic record integrity. The system, called the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD), will digitise and authenticate academic credentials across Nigerian tertiary institutions. The announcement occurred during a national capacity-building programme for school representatives. The initiative aims to curb certificate fraud and improve transparency in the education sector under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD)
The Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) serves as a national digital infrastructure for academic records.
It integrates three major systems:
- A National Student Clearinghouse
- A Federated repository for academic theses and abstracts
- A National academic publication and indexing database
Together, these platforms create a comprehensive digital footprint for academic credentials issued by accredited institutions in Nigeria.
Rapid Adoption Across Nigerian Institutions
The government recorded strong adoption within four months.
The platform has already:
- Preserved nearly 100,000 digital student submissions
- Onboarded more than 250 tertiary institutions
- Enrolled over 133,000 students
- Registered 6,800 lecturers
- Engaged 655 institutional focal persons nationwide
These institutions include universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education.
Digital Service Centres Create New Jobs
The Federal Government also partnered with Nigeria Digital Entrepreneurs to expand access.
Through this collaboration, authorities established more than 1,000 digital service centres across the country.
Consequently, the initiative has already created over 3,000 jobs within four months.
According to Alausa, the project supports the government’s broader strategy to apply digital technology to governance.
Tackling Fraudulent Foreign Degrees
The minister also addressed the issue of fake academic certificates obtained abroad.
Investigations revealed cases where individuals received PhD certificates in as little as six months from questionable institutions.
Some of these institutions reportedly operated from small apartments and lacked official accreditation.
Many Nigerians had travelled to the Republic of Benin to obtain such degrees.
However, Alausa stated that the government acted quickly after the reports surfaced.
Authorities conducted investigations and halted the practice.
Officials have also removed individuals who obtained fraudulent certificates from the civil service and other public sector positions.
National Credential Verification and Revocation System
The NERD platform will also provide several national verification services.
These include:
- National credential numbers for graduates
- A National Credential Revocation Service
- Real-time academic credential verification
These features aim to ensure the authenticity and security of academic qualifications nationwide.
Promoting Academic Excellence with National Awards
Beyond fraud prevention, the government plans to promote research excellence.
The ministry will launch the NERD Annual National Laureate Prize and Awards Programme.
The awards will recognise outstanding research at three academic levels:
- Undergraduate
- Master’s
- Doctoral
Prize money will range from ₦5 million to ₦20 million.
The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for November.
Why Reliable Data Matters for Governance
During his address, Alausa emphasised the role of accurate data in national development.
He noted that data enables governments to understand challenges and design effective solutions.
“Data is the lifeblood of effective governance,” he said.
According to him, reliable information allows policymakers to track progress and strengthen institutions.
Strengthening Trust in Nigeria’s Education System
The NERD initiative forms part of broader education reforms aimed at restoring confidence in Nigeria’s academic credentials.
By digitising records and enforcing verification standards, the government hopes to eliminate certificate fraud and improve transparency across tertiary institutions.
Ultimately, the system aims to ensure that every certificate issued in Nigeria reflects genuine academic achievement.
