Uche Nnaji has resigned from his position as Nigeria's Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following serious allegations of certificate forgery. His resignation, accepted by President Bola Tinubu, comes after intense scrutiny regarding the authenticity of his academic credentials and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

The controversy stems from an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, which revealed significant anomalies in the documents Nnaji submitted for his ministerial confirmation. Specifically, it was alleged that both the Bachelor’s degree and the NYSC certificate he presented to President Tinubu, the Senate, and various government offices were forged.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has publicly disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Nnaji's possession. According to the institution's Vice-Chancellor, Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by UNN. This official statement directly contradicted the credentials Nnaji had provided.

Further investigations extended to his NYSC certificate, which authorities at the National Youth Service Corps also failed to authenticate. Discrepancies noted included the certificate being signed by a Director-General who assumed office eighteen months before Nnaji's alleged service period, and the certificate indicating a 13-month service duration, contrary to the legally mandated 12 months.

Nnaji, who was appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023, tendered his resignation on Tuesday in a letter expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria. In his letter, he also claimed to have been a target of blackmail by political opponents. President Tinubu acknowledged Nnaji's service and wished him well in his future endeavors, as confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, the President's special adviser on information and strategy.

The resignation coincides with ongoing legal battles concerning Nnaji's academic records. A federal high court in Abuja had previously dismissed Nnaji’s request for an injunction to prevent UNN from releasing his academic records. Justice Hausa Yilwa delivered the ruling on September 22, stating that while Nnaji had a legitimate interest in the matter, the injunction could not be granted. An ongoing suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025, challenging the ownership and authenticity of his records, saw a hearing stalled after UNN and its officers failed to file their responses, leading to an adjournment until November 10.