The Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has defended the integrity of its postgraduate programmes and record-breaking Silver Jubilee Convocation, pushing back against criticisms suggesting the institution is “commercialising” academic degrees.
In a statement signed by its Acting Information and Protocol Officer, Jaafar Abdullahi Abubakar, the university described such claims as outdated and misleading, insisting that its recent achievements reflect expanded access, academic rigour, and global relevance.
Recall that at the historic convocation, NSUK graduated a total of 32,884 students across three academic sessions, including 1,677 PhD holders, 8,169 master’s degree graduates, 2,809 postgraduate diploma recipients, and 20,229 first-degree graduates, alongside two honorary awardees.
However, the university maintained that increasing access to postgraduate education does not equate to lowering standards but rather represents a deliberate effort to remove long-standing barriers.
“Access is not compromise,” the statement noted, adding that flexible and inclusive systems have enabled qualified scholars, professionals, and public servants to pursue advanced degrees without sacrificing academic quality.
NSUK further highlighted the relevance of its research output, noting that doctoral studies are focused on addressing real-world challenges such as climate change, public health, education reform, conflict resolution, and digital governance.
According to the institution, its graduates are already contributing across key sectors including academia, public service, diplomacy, and private enterprise, reinforcing the value of its postgraduate training.
On international standards, the university pointed to its growing global outlook, citing collaborations, cross-border research engagements, and faculty with international exposure as key drivers of quality.
It also stressed its multi-layered quality assurance framework, which includes admission screening, proposal defence, ethical reviews, external examination, and final Senate approval processes it described as rigorous, transparent, and consistent with global best practices.
NSUK added that its reliance on external examiners from within and outside Nigeria ensures credibility, independent assessment, and benchmarking with international standards.
The institution also highlighted its adoption of digital systems to streamline postgraduate administration, improve transparency, and enhance student experience, describing itself as a “student-centric, digitally driven centre of excellence.”
While welcoming constructive criticism, the university cautioned against narratives that undermine the achievements of its graduates.
“To reduce the success of thousands of hardworking scholars to careless claims of commercialisation is unfair,” the statement said, calling for more responsible public discourse around higher education.
Reaffirming its commitment to quality, access, and impact-driven research, NSUK said it would continue to produce graduates whose work is both locally relevant and globally competitive.
