FG Moves Academic Certificate Verification Fully Online, Ends Physical Visits
Reported By Facthabournews
The Federal Government has fully automated the evaluation and authentication of academic certificates, ending the need for applicants to physically visit the Federal Ministry of Education to process their credential verification requests.
The development was announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts by the government to digitise public services and modernise the management and verification of academic credentials in Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a major step in the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda and said it was aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Under the new arrangement, applicants seeking academic credential evaluation and authentication can complete the process through the ministry’s dedicated online platform, eliminating the need to travel to ministry offices for physical processing.
The ministry said the digital system was designed to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, speed up the processing of applications, improve transparency and make the service more accessible to Nigerians, including applicants living outside the country.
Applicants seeking the service have been directed to use the Federal Ministry of Education’s official credential evaluation and authentication platform at essverify.education.gov.ng. The ministry also provided ess1@education.gov.ng for enquiries relating to the service.
The automation represents a significant change from the previous process, which required applicants to engage with the ministry physically when seeking authentication or evaluation of their academic qualifications.
With the new system, applicants can initiate and process their requests electronically, potentially reducing the cost, time and inconvenience associated with travelling to Abuja or other ministry offices.
The ministry said the reform would also make the verification process more structured and efficient for institutions, employers and other authorised organisations that need to confirm the authenticity of academic qualifications.
The move is particularly significant amid concerns over fake academic certificates and the need to strengthen confidence in educational credentials presented for employment, further studies, professional purposes and government services.
The Federal Government has in recent years intensified efforts to establish stronger digital systems for managing academic records and preventing certificate fraud.
In September 2025, the government directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to begin using the National Credential Verification Service to authenticate academic certificates presented by existing staff and new employees. The policy was part of the wider Nigeria Education Repository and Databank initiative.
The government has also been working to integrate digital credential verification into the National Youth Service Corps mobilisation process.
The Federal Ministry of Education has said digital reforms are intended to close loopholes in the management and verification of educational records, strengthen the integrity of academic qualifications and prevent genuine graduates from being disadvantaged by fraudulent credentials.
The minister reiterated that technology would continue to play an important role in modernising education governance and improving the delivery of public services.
The new online verification system could also be particularly beneficial to Nigerians living abroad who require authentication of their academic credentials for employment, immigration, professional licensing, further education or other official purposes.
Previously, applicants living outside Nigeria could face significant logistical difficulties when required to engage with government offices physically. The online process is expected to make access easier by allowing requests to be handled electronically.
The reform also provides an opportunity to create a more consistent process for institutions and employers seeking to verify academic qualifications.
As Nigeria’s education system becomes increasingly digitised, the ability to authenticate credentials through reliable electronic systems is expected to become more important.
The Federal Government has been pursuing the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank as part of this broader digital transformation. The initiative is designed to improve the management of academic records and create stronger mechanisms for credential verification across the education sector.
The government’s approach is also aimed at addressing the problem of certificate racketeering, which has remained a concern for employers, educational institutions and regulatory authorities.
Fake academic certificates can undermine recruitment processes and allow individuals without the required qualifications to obtain employment or access opportunities intended for properly qualified candidates.
By strengthening verification systems, authorities hope to make it easier for institutions and employers to establish whether academic qualifications presented to them are genuine.
The new online process could therefore reduce dependence on manual documentation and make verification more traceable.
However, the effectiveness of the system will depend on the quality and completeness of academic records supplied by educational institutions. Universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other awarding institutions will remain important sources of information required to authenticate academic qualifications.
The government has also previously encouraged institutions to digitise and submit academic records to national systems to improve the availability and reliability of credential information.
For applicants, the latest reform means that physical visits to the Federal Ministry of Education are no longer required for the academic credential evaluation and authentication process covered by the new online system.
Applicants are expected to begin their requests through the designated platform and follow the instructions provided for submission and processing.
The ministry has urged applicants to use the official platform rather than relying on unofficial agents or intermediaries.
The digital transformation of academic certificate verification comes as the Federal Government continues to expand electronic services across different areas of public administration.
The objective is to reduce unnecessary physical interactions with government offices, improve efficiency and provide services that are easier for citizens to access.
For Nigeria’s education sector, the reform could represent an important step towards building a more reliable digital ecosystem for academic records.
It could also help employers, government agencies and educational institutions make faster and more informed decisions when verifying qualifications.
The Federal Government is expected to continue expanding digital integration across the education sector as part of its efforts to improve data management, strengthen institutional accountability and protect the credibility of Nigerian academic qualifications.
For now, applicants requiring academic certificate evaluation and authentication can access the ministry’s designated online platform and begin the process without travelling to the Federal Ministry of Education.
The development effectively marks the end of physical visits as the standard route for processing these academic credential verification requests and signals a broader shift towards digital delivery of education-related government services in Nigeria.
