Civil Society Coalition Decries Politicization of Alleged Certificate Forgery Against Minister Uche Nnaji

A coalition of civil society organizations has condemned what it described as the “politicization and hidden agenda” behind the ongoing certificate forgery allegations leveled against the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Geoffrey Nnaji.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the coalition said it was not out to defend whether or not the minister possessed the said certificate but to draw attention to the political undertones surrounding the controversy.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the spokesperson, Comrade  Henry Thomas, noted that Nigeria’s public discourse has been heavily politicized, stressing that issues such as the current allegation against the minister are often manipulated by political actors to achieve hidden objectives.

“We are not here to defend if the minister has or does not have a certificate. We are, however, concerned about the politicization of the issue and the hidden agenda behind it,” the group said.

Citing the pre-election controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic qualifications, the coalition recalled how similar allegations were raised by political figures such as Mr. Reno Omokri, who later became one of the president’s ardent supporters after the authenticity of the certificates was affirmed.

“Let us imagine for a minute if the public had gone with the false narrative as at then, and the damage it would have caused to our dear President,” the statement added.

The coalition also criticized Nigeria’s overemphasis on academic qualifications in leadership recruitment processes, arguing that competence, experience, and track record should carry greater weight in determining public appointments.

“Sacrificing competence for academic qualifications has cost our nation a lot in terms of leadership,” the group maintained. “People should be assessed on the basis of their capabilities and contributions, not just certificates.”

According to the coalition, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology under Nnaji’s leadership has witnessed significant improvements, with several agencies—including the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), and Project Development Agency (PRODA), becoming “more functional and innovative.”

The group alleged that the renewed controversy was linked to political hostilities between Minister Nnaji and the Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mbah, accusing the latter of influencing recent administrative decisions at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

“It is pertinent to note that this allegation of certificate forgery has been in contention for the past two years. We are baffled that the first assignment of the new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, an appointee reportedly backed by Governor Mbah was to take a stance on the matter,” the statement read.

The coalition further called on Premium Times to uphold the principles of fairness and balance in its reportage, describing the online newspaper as “a tool that has often been used for blackmail and frivolous claims.”

Concluding, the coalition urged Nigerians to avoid politically motivated distractions and instead focus on building a nation where competence, integrity, and innovation are prioritized over partisan interests.

“Our prayers are for a better and prosperous Nigeria devoid of political victimization and biased reportage; a Nigeria where competence is rated above the emptiness of academic qualifications,” the group declared.