Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, October 7, amidst serious allegations of certificate forgery. This high-profile exit from President Bola Tinubu's cabinet followed a painstaking two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, which revealed discrepancies in his academic credentials. Nnaji was accused of forging both his Bachelor's Degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates, which he had presented to President Tinubu, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Senate for his ministerial confirmation.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) officially disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Nnaji’s possession. According to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but did not complete his studies and was never issued a certificate. This was further corroborated by PREMIUM TIMES, which published documents showing Nnaji was still corresponding with UNN about re-sitting a failed terminal course examination at the time he claimed to have graduated and participated in NYSC.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Nnaji, an Enugu-born politician, has insisted on his innocence. In a personally signed statement, he described the allegations as a