Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned from office with immediate effect, describing the recent certificate forgery allegations against him as “blackmail by political opponents.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation, according to a statement from the Presidency Tuesday evening. The President said the minister’s exit followed “unspecified allegations” that recently trailed his office.
Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, tendered his resignation in a letter dated October 7, 2025. In the letter, he thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and expressed confidence in the administration’s vision for national development.
While Nnaji did not elaborate on the allegations, sources close to the ministry said the controversy stemmed from questions surrounding his academic credentials, which have recently sparked online debates and opposition criticism.
The development has drawn renewed attention to President Tinubu’s own history of certificate-related controversies. The President, who faced scrutiny over his academic records during the 2023 election period, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing past accusations as politically motivated.
Nnaji’s resignation leaves a vacancy in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology. The Presidency has not yet announced a replacement, though a new appointment is expected in the coming days.
