Uche Nnaji Resigns: The Price of Allegations and the Cost of Credibility
The political landscape in Nigeria witnessed yet another dramatic turn on October 7, 2025, when Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, tendered his resignation. The reason? Allegations of certificate forgery that escalated into a public scandal, leaving his position untenable and raising broader questions about integrity and accountability.
The trouble for Nnaji began shortly after he was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023. Investigative reporters questioned his academic credentials and NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) certificate. These were not mere technicalities: they involved claims that Nnaji had presented both a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a NYSC discharge certificate that many now say are forged.
UNN, in response to Freedom of Information requests, jointly confirmed that it did not issue a valid degree certificate to him in 1985, contrary to what had been submitted to all government bodies in the country.
In his resignation letter, Nnaji did not admit wrongdoing but claimed he had become the target of political attacks and blackmail by opponents. He argued that the controversy had become a distraction, making it difficult to discharge his duties effectively, and that stepping down was necessary to protect “the integrity of government” and allow due process to unfold.
Facing mounting public pressure, legal scrutiny and growing evidence against his claims, Nnaji officially submitted his resignation.
accepted the resignation, commending Nnaji for his service and wishing him well in his future endeavours.
The resignation isn’t just a story about one man’s political fate. It underscores several systemic issues. The case shows deficiencies in how academic and NYSC credentials are checked before confirmations. If these processes are weak or circumvented, the very legitimacy of appointments is put at risk. Some of the controversy around Nnaji reflects real concerns about forgery and misrepresentation. However, the claim that he was politically blackmailed is not without precedent in Nigerian politics. The danger is that genuine issues of integrity may be co-opted into partisan warfare, blurring judgment in the public eye. As Nigeria approaches upcoming elections, such scandals can be corrosive to public trust. Citizens expect and deserve honesty from those in highest office, not only in policy but in personal credentials. How this episode is handled could set precedents: How lenient or strict should governments be when faced with similar allegations? Is resignation or dismissal the only solution, or can a full investigation clear someone? For an administration that has campaigned on anti-corruption and “renewed hope,” the stakes are particularly high.
Geoffrey Uche Nnaji’s resignation is a testament to the fact that in contemporary Nigerian politics, claims of forgery and misrepresentation are no longer easily brushed aside. Whether Nnaji is innocent or guilty will be for the courts and institutions to determine. But the fallout already points to an urgent need for reform: robust verification systems, clear sanctions for false claims, and a political culture that prizes integrity over expediency. Nigeria deserves leaders whose credentials are beyond reproach not just to satisfy legal requirements, but to restore faith in governance itself.
