The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, to extend his reform-driven leadership to confront the rising menace of certificate forgery within Nigeria’s public and political institutions.
In a statement signed by its Assistant Secretary General, Adejuwon Emmanuel, the student body applauded Ajayi’s first year in office, describing his leadership as “strategic, disciplined, and reform-oriented.” NANS credited him with “restoring professionalism, morale, and institutional synergy within one of Nigeria’s most critical security agencies.”
According to the association, Ajayi’s commitment to meritocracy, transparency, and diversity in staff appointments has redefined the DSS as “an institution that operates with quiet efficiency rather than unnecessary spectacle.”
“Within one year, the DSS has witnessed improved morale among personnel, enhanced coordination with other security agencies, and greater responsiveness to the complex security challenges confronting the nation,” NANS said.
However, the student group emphasized that certificate forgery represents a “moral and institutional threat” capable of eroding the credibility of governance if left unchecked.
“The spread of falsified academic documents among public officials is a moral and institutional threat capable of infiltrating the highest levels of governance and policymaking,” Emmanuel stated.
NANS cited several past high-profile cases, including those of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari (1999); former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun (2018); and a recent ministerial resignation tied to certificate irregularities. It noted that while such scandals occurred under different administrations, the DSS has the intelligence and vetting capacity to strengthen national integrity systems.
“The DSS should lead a coordinated national campaign against certificate forgery in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, JAMB, NYSC, and tertiary institutions,” the statement added.
The association further proposed the creation of a digitised national certificate verification system that would enable real-time authentication of academic and professional credentials, reducing fraud and ensuring accountability.
“Offenders must be swiftly investigated and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent. Every scandal involving fake credentials undermines the efforts of millions of students and graduates who earned theirs legitimately,” NANS warned.
While commending Ajayi’s performance so far, the group emphasized that the fight against certificate forgery would be a defining test of his leadership legacy.
“This next phase, where moral integrity meets national security, will determine the enduring legacy of Mr. Ajayi’s tenure. We urge him to make the fight against certificate forgery a national priority,” Emmanuel concluded.
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