Nigeria Automates Academic Certificate Verification Online

The Federal Government of Nigeria has fully automated the evaluation and authentication of academic certificates, transitioning the entire process online and eliminating the need for applicants to visit the Federal Ministry of Education physically. The reform, announced on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, aims to enhance transparency, reduce processing delays, and combat certificate racketeering. Applicants are now required to create an account on the official ESSVerify portal, essverify.education.gov.ng, to upload their academic credentials and supporting documents electronically. The ministry stressed that physical visits are no longer necessary, as the entire procedure, from application and submission to payment and status tracking, has been digitized. For transcript verification, applicants must direct the awarding institution-whether a university, polytechnic, or college of education-to send the transcript directly from its official email address to the ministry. Submitting transcripts personally is discouraged to maintain the security and credibility of the verification process.