After initial boldface and insistence that his academic credentials were genuine, Uchechukwu Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has finally resigned his position.
The embattled Nnaji’s resignation was announced by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement Tuesday evening.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Nnaji has been caught in the web of certificate forgery scandal exposed by an online newspaper, Premium Times.
The paper had accused the now ex-minister of forging his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Bachelor of Science degree certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, which the two institutions confirmed were not issued by them.
Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the university by the newspaper, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, the Vice-Chancellor, stated that although Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.
Similarly, the management of the NYSC affirmed that the discharge certificate being paraded by Nnaji was strange to it and could not be authenticated.
But despite the positions of the UNN and NYSC, Nnaji continued to insist that he earned the certificates.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, September 6, 2025, addressed on his behalf by his spokesperson, Dr Robert Ngwu, the minister emphasised he remained a “proud alumnus” of UNN, where he claimed he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry with Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.
Nnaji blamed his woes on political opponents whom he accused of weaponising institutions and media platforms to malign him ahead of the 2027 general elections, vowing not to be distracted from his mandate of advancing Nigeria’s innovation and science sector.
However, Onanuga said President Tinubu has accepted the minister’s resignation.
According to the presidential spokesperson, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.
“President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023. He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.
“Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.
“President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours”.
Amid mounting pressure on President Bola Tinubu to sack the minister, the presidency broke its discomfiting silence on Monday, saying that it would not take any action until the case in court was determined.
Onanuga told the Leadership newspaper that“This matter is already in court. We should await the verdict of the court.”
According to him, President Tinubu’s administration will respect the judicial process and allow the courts to determine Nnaji’s fate before making any move.
