Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has vowed to launch a full-scale campaign against people using fake academic certificates in the state after the November 8 governorship election.
Speaking during the inauguration of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Campaign Council in Awka over the weekend, Soludo said the battle to clean up Anambra is far from over. He noted that after tackling fake native doctors, his administration’s next focus will be on certificate forgers, especially those in public positions.
Soludo made the remarks while addressing party members and supporters, expressing deep concern over the increasing number of political figures parading questionable educational qualifications.
According to the governor, a running mate to a governorship candidate from a prominent opposition party is currently claiming to hold a PhD, even though investigations show that the degree is from a non-accredited institution. He noted that the individual, who only has a secondary school certificate, skipped the normal academic path and presented a fake doctorate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“INEC has a column where if you are filing your (governorship) form, you fill your qualifications. But the running mate to this candidate wrote that (s)he had a school certificate and a PhD,” Soludo said.
“What it means is that (s)he does not have a diploma, a degree, or a master’s degree, but jumped straight to a PhD — that is wrong.”
He explained that the so-called PhD was traced to an unaccredited foreign institution, which issues certificates online for a fee — some as little as $60.
“Let me say that, that university has no accreditation in the US and is not recognized by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC). That is a fake degree, and it deceives our children,” Soludo said.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor lamented that such acts undermine the education system and send the wrong message to young Nigerians.
“It confuses the children. If that PhD is what you want, you sit down and work for it — not going to get fake certificates. They are deceiving our children, and we cannot let that continue,” he warned.
Soludo, who has already led a controversial campaign against fake native doctors in the state, said the time has come to extend the cleanup to the education and political system, where academic qualifications are often faked to gain political or professional advantage.
“After the election on November 8, we will declare war on fake certificate holders,” he vowed. “The work we have to do in Anambra to sanitize the state is much, and we will not shy away from it.”
He added that restoring integrity and morality in public service is crucial to rebuilding the state. According to him, leaders must lead by example and not mislead the public, especially the youth, who look up to politicians and public figures.
“We are talking about the future of our young ones. If they begin to believe that every certificate can be bought online or forged, then we are in trouble. We must stop this trend,” he said.
Soludo further encouraged party loyalists to stay focused on the upcoming election and campaign with dignity, promising that APGA remains committed to good governance, transparency, and accountability in the state.
Though he did not disclose the name of the political party or the running mate in question, his comments have sparked conversations both online and offline, as many try to guess the identity of the accused.
As the 2025 Anambra governorship election draws near, the governor’s comments are expected to stir public debate on the authenticity of credentials presented by political candidates, and may lead to deeper scrutiny of declarations submitted to INEC.
