Niger Orders Transmission Of Accredited Private Nigerien Higher Institutions List To NNJC, Nigeria

The Minister of Education and Scientific Research of the Niger Republic, Professor Mamadou Saidou, has officially instructed the forwarding of the comprehensive list of fully accredited and recognised private universities and other higher academic institutions in the country and their language of instruction to the Nigeria–Niger Joint Commission (NNJC).

The list, compiled and validated by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Research—the sole authorised national regulatory body responsible for evaluation, quality assurance, and accreditation of higher education in Niger—represents the only authentic and officially recognised record of accredited institutions in the Niger Republic.

Any list outside this verified submission is regarded as inaccurate, misleading, and unauthorised.

During a formal meeting at his office, the Minister directed the handover of the list of accredited institutions to Ambassador Musa S. Mamman, Secretary General of the Nigeria–Niger Joint Commission.

The submission underscored the importance of ensuring that only duly accredited institutions were recognised, particularly for the purpose of international validation of academic certificates.

The position of the Agency as the sole accrediting authority was further reinforced by the Declaration of Addis Ababa (2008), which recognises the Niger Quality Assurance Agency as the only body empowered to validate and recognise academic certificates within and outside the Niger Republic.

In a letter addressed to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the Commission stated: “It would be highly appreciated if the attached list can be transmitted to all the relevant MDAs in Nigeria such as the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Council of Legal Education, Medical Council of Nigeria, etc., for information and records.”

The correspondence further reaffirmed diplomatic goodwill: “While thanking you for your usual support and understanding, please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest regards.”

This development establishes the NNJC-endorsed list as the definitive and authoritative reference for all stakeholders in Nigeria and institutions not appearing on this list should not be considered accredited or recognised under any official framework.

It is important to note that the NNJC, established in 1971, is a bilateral framework designed to strengthen ties between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, with its permanent secretariat in Niamey. Its key areas of cooperation include security, trade, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure. In the education sector, the Commission plays a vital role in validating accredited academic institutions and promoting cross-border academic collaboration.