President Tinubu Accepts Resignation of Science and Technology Minister over Certificate Forgery
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly accepted the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The development follows a series of allegations leveled against the former minister.
The acceptance was disclosed in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Mr. Nnaji, who had been appointed to the cabinet in August 2023, submitted his resignation letter today.
According to the Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Nnaji expressed his gratitude to the President for the opportunity afforded him to serve the nation.
In explaining his decision, the former minister reportedly stated that he had become the target of a “blackmail campaign by political opponents.”
President Tinubu, through his Special Adviser, was said to have thanked Mr. Nnaji for his service to the country and wished him success in his future endeavors.
The brief announcement did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the allegations that preceded the Minister’s departure.
The portfolio of Innovation, Science, and Technology is now understood to be without a substantive head.
The allegations that led to the Minister’s resignation reportedly centered on a purported forgery of his academic credentials, specifically a Bachelor of Science degree claimed to have been obtained from a foreign university. While the Minister has vehemently denied the claims, attributing them to political persecution, documents circulating online and subsequently scrutinized by investigative journalists raised significant questions regarding the authenticity of the certificate. This public scrutiny and the mounting pressure from various civil society groups for a thorough investigation are believed to have been the immediate catalysts for Mr. Nnaji’s decision to step down from the Federal Executive Council.
The immediate vacancy in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology has now raised speculation regarding President Tinubu’s next steps, particularly whether he will appoint an interim leader from within the ministry’s permanent secretary cadre or swiftly nominate a replacement to the Senate for confirmation. Given the administration’s stated focus on technological advancement and economic diversification, the prolonged absence of a substantive Minister is viewed by analysts as potentially slowing down key policy initiatives, such as the rollout of the national broadband plan and support for local tech startups. The episode also highlights the administration’s stance on maintaining integrity within the cabinet, sending a clear message to other public officials about the seriousness with which allegations of misconduct, especially concerning credentials, will be treated.
