Nigerians seeking to authenticate their academic qualifications or evaluate certificates obtained from foreign institutions can now complete the process online through the Federal Ministry of Education’s Education Support Services (ESS) Verify portal, eliminating the need for applicants to visit the Ministry physically.
The digital platform, known as ESSVerify, provides a range of services relating to academic credentials and other documents issued or processed by the Ministry. It allows Nigerians and foreign applicants to submit applications, upload required documents, make payments and track relevant processes electronically.
The platform also enables members of the public, employers, educational institutions and other organisations to verify documents previously issued through the Ministry’s Education Sector Support and Services.
Among the services available on the portal are authentication of Nigerian academic qualifications, evaluation of foreign qualifications, eligibility or English proficiency letters, letters of no objection and verification of existing ESS-issued documents.
The Federal Ministry of Education completed the end-to-end digitisation of Education Support Services in April 2026, including certificate verification and processes involving foreign applicants. The development marked a major shift from the previous system, which required applicants to undertake physical verification and submit applications through conventional channels.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, reconfirmed on Wednesday that the digitisation process had been completed, stressing that applicants can now access the relevant services online.
The new system is designed to make credential-related processes more accessible, transparent and efficient while reducing the burden associated with physical visits to government offices.
Choosing the Appropriate Service
The first step for applicants is to determine the specific service they require because the ESSVerify portal provides separate options for different academic credential needs.
Nigerians who intend to use a certificate obtained from a Nigerian institution outside the country can apply for authentication.
Authentication is intended to establish the validity of Nigerian academic qualifications for purposes such as further education, employment, professional requirements and migration.
On the other hand, individuals who obtained their academic qualifications from institutions outside Nigeria and intend to use those qualifications within the country can apply for evaluation.
The evaluation process enables the Ministry to assess foreign academic qualifications and determine their equivalence or acceptability for relevant official purposes. Such assessments may be required for employment, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) purposes and other government or institutional requirements.
The portal also provides an Eligibility/English Proficiency Letter service for applicants who require official confirmation of their eligibility or proficiency for purposes such as admission, further studies abroad or employment.
Another service available through the platform is the Letter of No Objection.
This service is distinct from the authentication or evaluation of academic certificates. It is designed for institutions, organisations or other applicants seeking official clearance or confirmation from the Ministry regarding certain programmes, partnerships or related educational activities.
How to Verify an Existing Document
The ESSVerify portal also provides a straightforward process for individuals and organisations seeking to establish whether a document issued through Education Support Services is genuine.
Applicants or organisations seeking verification can access the ESSVerify portal and select the “Verify a document” option or the corresponding document-verification feature.
The user is required to enter the document number displayed on the ESS-issued certificate or letter and submit the request by clicking “Verify.”
The system then processes the information and indicates whether the document is genuine.
The verification feature could be particularly useful to employers, schools, government agencies and other organisations that need to confirm the authenticity of academic or official documents presented to them.
It also provides an additional layer of protection against the use of forged documents and could help institutions make more informed decisions when assessing applicants.
How to Authenticate or Evaluate an Academic Certificate
Applicants seeking authentication of Nigerian qualifications or evaluation of foreign qualifications must complete a full application through the portal.
The process begins by accessing the ESSVerify platform and selecting “Start an application.”
New applicants are required to create an account using a valid email address. The email address must be verified before the applicant proceeds to complete the required profile information.
After creating an account, applicants can log into the platform and select the service they require.
The available options include Authentication, Evaluation, Eligibility/English Proficiency Letter and Letter of No Objection.
Applicants are then required to provide their personal information and details of the academic qualification they want the Ministry to process.
The application may also require applicants to select the specific documents to be processed and indicate the number of pages involved, depending on the nature of the request.
After completing the relevant information, the applicant generates a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) and makes the required payment through the designated payment system.
Applicants are advised to note that payments made for the services are non-refundable.
Once payment has been completed, applicants are required to upload clear and legible scanned copies of the relevant documents.
The quality of uploaded documents is important because unclear, incomplete or poorly scanned documents could affect the processing of an application.
Applicants should therefore ensure that certificates, identification or other required documents are properly scanned and that all relevant information is clearly visible before uploading them.
Transcript Requirements
In cases where an official academic transcript is required, applicants may need to contact the registry of the institution that awarded the qualification.
The awarding institution is expected to send the official transcript directly to the designated email address provided for the process.
This requirement is intended to strengthen the integrity of the verification process by ensuring that official academic records are transmitted directly by the institution responsible for issuing them.
Applicants should therefore contact their institution’s registry early where a transcript is required, rather than waiting until the final stage of the application.
The digitalisation of Education Support Services represents a significant change in how academic credentials and related government services are accessed in Nigeria.
By moving authentication, evaluation, verification and related processes online, the Federal Ministry of Education is seeking to reduce physical bureaucracy and make services more accessible to Nigerians at home and abroad.
The system also provides a centralised mechanism for checking documents and processing applications, potentially improving accountability and reducing opportunities for fraudulent academic credentials.
For Nigerians seeking employment, admission, migration, professional opportunities or other official purposes requiring academic credential verification, the ESSVerify portal provides a single digital platform through which relevant applications can be initiated.
Applicants are, however, expected to provide accurate information, submit authentic documents and follow the requirements specified for the particular service they are requesting.
The transition to a fully online system means that applicants no longer need to make routine physical visits to the Federal Ministry of Education merely to initiate or complete these Education Support Services processes.
The initiative is therefore expected to make academic credential authentication and foreign qualification evaluation faster, more accessible and more convenient, while strengthening the Ministry’s ability to verify educational documents and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s academic certification system.
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