Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet amid allegations concerning the authenticity of his academic credentials.
The resignation was announced on Tuesday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. According to the statement, President Tinubu accepted Nnaji’s resignation, which followed unspecified allegations against him.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him,” the statement read. “President Tinubu thanks him for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”
Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, submitted his resignation in a letter expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve and alleging that he had been the target of political blackmail.
The former minister has recently faced scrutiny after reports surfaced alleging that he forged the academic certificate submitted during his appointment process.
Through his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, Nnaji on Monday denied the allegations, asserting that he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1985.
He also urged the university to release his academic transcript “without further delay” and accused the institution of attempting to damage his reputation by issuing conflicting reports regarding his academic records.
Source:Africa Publicity
