FG Launches NERD to Reward Graduates and Combat Forgery

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, revealed plans to reward exceptional Nigerian graduates with monetary prizes between 5 million and 20 million Naira as part of the newly established Nigeria Education Repository Data Bank (NERD) annual National Knowledge Prize Award program. This initiative was announced during a capacity-building program in Abuja aimed at strengthening institutional compliance with academic record integrity.

Dr. Alausa emphasized the need for measures to eliminate certificate forgery and enhance credential verification to curb disputes over academic records. NERD is designed to serve as a technological platform to promote academic integrity and transparency, with a focus on digitizing and securing academic records across post-secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The initiative aligns with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritizing education and skill development. NERD has already curated and preserved nearly 100,000 digital student submissions and established 1,000 digital service centers nationwide.