President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, amid serious allegations of certificate forgery that have dominated news headlines in recent days.
Nnaji, who was appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023, stepped down on October 7, 2025, submitting a resignation letter in which he expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
In his letter, Nnaji stated he was a target of political blackmail and personal attacks, which influenced his decision to resign to prevent distractions from the national development agenda.
The context leading to Nnaji’s resignation centers on damning allegations that he forged both his Bachelor of Science degree certificate and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
Investigations, including an extensive report by PREMIUM TIMES, revealed that Nnaji did not complete his university education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which disowned the certificates he presented.
The university formally stated that Nnaji never graduated and was never issued a degree certificate, a claim Nnaji implicitly confirmed by admitting in court filings that UNN never issued such certificates to him.
These revelations first surfaced publicly when President Tinubu submitted Nnaji’s ministerial nomination to the Senate in mid-2023, igniting widespread scrutiny and calls for accountability. The controversy deepened with subsequent official correspondences from UNN confirming the forgery accusations, intensifying the political pressure on the minister..
In response, President Tinubu thanked Nnaji for his service as Minister before his resignation and wished him well in his future endeavors, while the President’s office did not directly address the forgery allegations.
This resignation marks a significant episode in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against certificate forgery within public offices, highlighting challenges in vetting and integrity standards in government appointments.Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, officially confirmed the resignation and acceptance by the President, putting an end to the minister’s tumultuous tenure that lasted just over two years
