By Wellington Jopelo
Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, has expelled 365 students after uncovering the use of fake academic documents during the admission process into its Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
The institution said the affected students were found to have submitted forged National Diploma results and falsified academic transcripts allegedly obtained from different tertiary institutions in order to secure admission.
The discovery followed a routine verification exercise carried out by the school to authenticate documents submitted by students during registration. Management explained that the process was part of ongoing efforts to uphold academic integrity and maintain standards within the institution.
According to the school, the affected students were spread across several departments, including Mass Communication, Business Studies, Science and Technology, Engineering, and Environmental Studies.
Officials said the institution has zero tolerance for academic fraud, stressing that any student found guilty of presenting fake credentials would face disciplinary action, including expulsion.
The school added that all admissions undergo strict verification checks, warning prospective applicants to desist from submitting forged documents as the consequences are severe.
MAPOLY further stated that the decision was necessary to protect the credibility of its certificates and restore confidence in the institution’s academic system.
The management also reiterated its commitment to cleaning up the admission process and ensuring that only qualified candidates are retained in the school.
The development has sparked concern within the academic community, as education stakeholders continue to raise alarm over the increasing cases of certificate forgery in tertiary institutions across the country.
Authorities say the crackdown will continue as part of wider efforts to strengthen discipline and credibility in Nigeria’s education sector.