Starting October 6, 2025, the Federal Government will implement a nationwide mandate enforcing the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) concerning the verification of academic credentials.
In an official circular dated August 8, signed by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), as well as higher education institutions across Nigeria-including civilian, military, public, and private sectors-are required to establish a standardized process for authenticating the academic qualifications of both current employees and new hires.
The directive specifies that this verification must be carried out through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), which operates under the NERD framework.
Senator Akume highlighted that no employment offer will be finalized without receiving clearance from the NCVS, which validates academic documents prior to confirmation of appointments. Each verified credential will be assigned a unique National Credential Number along with security codes to ensure proper documentation and tracking.
The Secretary further clarified that this reform mandates all academic certificates, diplomas, or awards presented within Nigeria to be issued by accredited institutions and to be digitally verifiable, traceable, and authentic. This approach replaces the previous system where verification was dependent on individual institutions, thereby establishing a robust national quality assurance mechanism resistant to manipulation.
The policy is grounded in Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, with enforcement responsibilities designated to NERD. The initiative was initially proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023 and subsequently ratified by the Federal Executive Council.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, who launched the NCVS in March, described the program as a critical defense against academic fraud, counterfeit degrees, and falsified academic honors.
Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity at NERD, confirmed that the infrastructure for nationwide implementation is fully ready. She encouraged MDAs, post-secondary institutions, tertiary schools, and private organizations to register their designated NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers through the agency’s official website.
Galadima emphasized that NERD sets the federal benchmark for digitizing higher education credentials, aiming to safeguard national security, preserve academic integrity, and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage. The agency is also responsible for managing the National School Number (NSN), National Credential Number (NCN), and National Document Number, as well as maintaining a National Database of Resource Persons to enable immediate verification of authentic academic honors.
She added that NERD functions as a centralized national repository ensuring data uniformity, while facilitating collaboration among decentralized systems without compromising their independence.
The NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, includes key representatives from the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and committees of vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts from institutions nationwide.
