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The Federal Ministry of Education dismissed viral reports alleging that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered 100 fake professors across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 14, by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, Minister of Education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa labelled the claims “recycled misinformation intended to mislead the public and discredit the nation’s university system.”
The ministry emphasised that the NUC had “never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors.”
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According to the ministry, the viral fake professor claim originated as “a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.”
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
PRESS RELEASE
14/11/26
FME DEBUNKS VIRAL CLAIMS OF 2,000 UNIVERSITIES, 100 FAKE PROFESSORS IN NIGERIA
…Says NUC never issued such declarations or authenticated the circulating lists
The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed as false and misleading viral reports alleging that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria, describing them as recycled misinformation intended to mislead the public and discredit the nation’s university system.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, categorically states that the NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors.
The Ministry clarifies that the allegation concerning fake professors is a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities. The original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the Commission has since disowned.
The Ministry expresses concern over the persistent recycling of these false claims, which are calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly the university system.
It therefore urges members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the fabricated claims and verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to supporting the NUC in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations— Federal Ministry of Education (@NigEducation) November 14, 2026
Officials clarified that the circulating names never appeared in that original review.
“The original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the Commission has since disowned,” the statement read, warning that the false posts were “calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly the university system.”
Urging citizens, media outlets, and social media users to ignore the rumour, the ministry advised everyone to “disregard the fabricated claims and verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.”
Officials reaffirmed their commitment to backing the commission in “safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.”
