Attah Ede and Kamsi Anayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.
President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023.
He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.
Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.
President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.
This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga on Tuesday.
President had summoned the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over allegations bothering on his university certificates.
Premium Times had earlier reported that Nnaji failed to graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), alleging that the minister forged the academic documents he submitted for his appointment.
The minister had claimed to have graduated from UNN in 1985 with a degree in microbiology.
However, there is this allegation that Nnaji was required to retake a course in virology in 1986, having failed it in 1985, and therefore could not have graduated in the year he claimed.
Consequently, this controversy over the minister’s academic stance made the president to summon him to the presidential villa.
As of the time of filing this report, Nnaji was still at the villa to clarify issues surrounding his academic qualifications.
