In a startling revelation, investigative journalist Umar Audu from Daily Nigerian has brought to light a clandestine world of fraudulent degrees originating from universities in Togo and Ghana. Audu’s exposé, titled ‘How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks,’ sheds light on the elaborate process through which individuals can acquire fake degrees with alarming ease. His investigation uncovered a thriving certificate racketeering syndicate operating in Benin Republic and Togo, specializing in selling these bogus university credentials to eager buyers in Nigeria.
Audu detailed his personal experience, narrating how his Cotonou-based university degree was delivered to him in a manner akin to ordering a pizza – a shocking revelation of the simplicity with which these fake degrees can be obtained. The investigative journalist highlighted that the entire process, from payment to delivery, took a mere six weeks. Despite governmental actions in 2018, prompted by a similar investigation, Audu exposed that the illicit practice persists unabated, raising questions about the effectiveness of measures taken to curb such activities.
The authenticity of Audu’s findings is underscored by his possession of a certificate and transcript bearing the genuine scan code of Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT). Remarkably, he accomplished this investigation without leaving the country’s borders, obtaining the fraudulent certificates at a surprisingly affordable price. To further illustrate the severity of the issue, Audu disclosed how he successfully utilized the fake university certificate to file for and participate in the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program without detection, highlighting the potential consequences of such fraudulent practices on the integrity of educational and national institutions.
