In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Nnaji confirmed that he had tendered his resignation to President Tinubu, citing the results of deep reflection and consultations with his family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians.
Uche Nnaji has confirmed his resignation as Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet following a controversy over the authenticity of his academic qualifications.
In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Nnaji confirmed that he had tendered his resignation to President Tinubu, citing the results of deep reflection and consultations with his family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians.
He stated, “After deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians, I have today tendered my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that Nnaji, who was appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023, tendered his resignation in a letter, expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve the country.
The announcement of Nnaji’s resignation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In his letter, the former minister claimed he had been the target of blackmail by political opponents, which influenced his decision to step down.
President Tinubu, in response, thanked Nnaji for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.
On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had formally disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate being paraded by Nnaji.
The UNN said Nnaji never graduated from the institution and was never issued such a document.
The development brought new weight to allegations that had dogged Nnaji since July 2023, when he was named among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Tinubu.
At the time, critics argued that his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials were fake, insisting that he had not completed his studies at the Nsukka-based university.
In response to a Freedom of Information request by PREMIUM TIMES, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, confirmed that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there was no record that he completed his studies or graduated from the institution.
On Sunday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Nnaji had admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate.
According to the report, Nnaji made the admission in court documents filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The minister had instituted a suit against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, the Registrar, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, and the university’s Senate.
The court filings confirm that Nnaji personally acknowledged not having been issued a certificate by the institution.
In his verifying affidavit supporting a motion ex parte, which was obtained by the newspaper, Nnaji recounted that he was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and claimed to have completed the programme in 1985. However, in paragraph 13 of the affidavit, he confessed that he had never collected any certificate from the university.
The letter, signed by UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum and sent to the People’s Gazette, has since been invalidated.
In May 2025, Mrs Nnebedum wrote to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), stating that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Nnaji’s name.
But addressing the controversy in his Tuesday statement, Nnaji described the allegations as politically motivated, saying they were part of “an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood” against him.
He said, “This decision did not come lightly. Over the past week, an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks have been waged against my person, integrity, and office across print, electronic, and social media platforms.”
“These unfounded allegations and media distortions,” he continued, “have not only caused personal distress but have also begun to distract from the vital work of the Ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
The former minister explained that his resignation was not an admission of guilt but a “principled decision” to protect the integrity of the office and allow judicial processes to take their course.
“As someone who has spent more than five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work, honour, and service to humanity, I cannot in good conscience allow these distractions to cast a shadow over the noble objectives of this administration,” Nnaji stated.
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court. In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just.”
Nnaji expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, reaffirming his loyalty to the administration’s vision of a technologically driven Nigeria.
“I remain deeply grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence he reposed in me and for the privilege to serve in his cabinet.
“His vision for a renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria is one I continue to hold dear, and I pledge my unflinching support to his administration and its transformative goals,” he said.
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