The Federal Government has moved the verification and authentication of academic qualifications handled by the Federal Ministry of Education to a fully digital platform, eliminating the need for applicants to visit the ministry physically.
The online service, known as the Education Sector Support and Services (ESS) Verify portal, enables Nigerians and other users to authenticate Nigerian academic qualifications, evaluate foreign certificates and verify documents previously issued by the ministry.
The platform also processes applications for eligibility and English proficiency letters, as well as letters of no objection required by institutions and organisations.
The digitisation of the Education Support Services was completed in April 2026, when the ministry launched the end-to-end online system for certificate verification and related services. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reiterated the development on Wednesday.
Under the new system, applicants are required to identify the service they need before commencing the process.
Nigerians seeking to use their academic qualifications outside the country can apply for certificate authentication, which confirms the validity of their credentials for purposes including employment, further education and migration.
Similarly, people who obtained their qualifications outside Nigeria can apply for evaluation where their credentials are required for employment, National Youth Service Corps participation or other official purposes.
The portal also caters to applicants seeking eligibility or English proficiency letters, while institutions seeking government clearance for programmes or partnerships can apply for a letter of no objection.
For verification of an already-issued ESS document, users are required to visit the ESS Verify portal, select the document verification option and enter the number displayed on the relevant certificate or letter. The system then confirms whether the document is genuine.
Applicants seeking authentication or evaluation must create an account with a valid email address, verify the account and complete their profiles before selecting the required service.
They are then expected to provide their personal and academic details, select the documents to be processed, generate a Remita Retrieval Reference and make the required non-refundable payment.
Applicants must also upload clear copies of the required documents. Where an official transcript is required, the awarding institution is expected to send it directly to the designated email address provided by the ministry.
The ministry said the digital transition is designed to streamline the processing of academic credentials and reduce the need for physical visits to its offices.
