The Federal Government has announced that full enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) will commence across the country on October 6, 2025, marking a significant step toward strengthening academic credential verification in Nigeria.
According to an official circular dated August 8, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private higher institutions both civilian and military must now authenticate academic qualifications through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) prior to finalizing any appointments.
As part of the new mandate, each verified credential will be issued a National Credential Number and a set of security codes to ensure traceability and safeguard records.
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Senator Akume emphasized that the initiative introduces a centralized quality assurance system, allowing certificates, diplomas, and awards to be verified within seconds.
He added that the reform significantly reduces reliance on individual institutions for verification and introduces a national safeguard against fraudulent practices.
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The policy is backed by Section 10(1) of the Education Act of 1985 and was first proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2023.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the NCVS as a “systemic solution” aimed at eradicating academic fraud, counterfeit certificates, and the proliferation of unaccredited programs.
In a statement, Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity at NERD, confirmed that the verification system is fully operational and ready for deployment.
She urged institutions and private sector stakeholders to designate and register their NERD focal persons through the official online portal.
Galadima also highlighted that the platform manages key national identifiers such as the National School Number (NSN), National Credential Number (NCN), and National Document Number, and maintains a searchable database of resource persons for instant validation.
The NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, includes representatives from leading education and data management institutions and is tasked with overseeing implementation and compliance.
