NUC Withdraws Recognition of Midocean University Degrees
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has officially withdrawn recognition previously granted to qualifications issued by Midocean University in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. The decision, announced on June 25, 2026, follows a notification from UAE authorities communicated through Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the NUC, the withdrawal is in accordance with a directive from the Ministry of Education, which relayed information from the UAE government regarding the institution's recognition status. As a result, degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by Midocean University will no longer be accepted for employment, further studies, professional registration, or other official purposes in Nigeria.
Reason for the Delisting
The NUC stated that the action was taken after the UAE government withdrew its recognition of Midocean University. The commission made the announcement via a social media post, urging stakeholders to take note of the change and act accordingly when evaluating academic credentials.
This development affects all certificates, diplomas, degrees, and other qualifications issued by the institution. They will no longer be recognized for employment, admission into further academic programs, professional licensing, credential assessment, or related official processes within Nigeria.
Who Is Affected?
The advisory applies to prospective students, parents, employers, professional bodies, educational institutions, and government agencies. The NUC called on individuals considering studies abroad to verify the status of foreign universities and their programs before seeking admission. It also advised organizations and institutions to conduct proper checks before accepting qualifications obtained from overseas institutions.
All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as employers and regulatory bodies, have been directed to comply with the updated status of the university.
UAE Bans Social Media for Children
In a related development, the United Arab Emirates has announced a ban on social media use for children under the age of 15. Platforms are required to monitor and disable accounts created by underage users or risk being blocked in the country. The UAE's official WAM news agency reported the measure, citing a cabinet resolution that sets 15 as the minimum age for social media use.
Children below 15 are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms under the new rules. They are also barred from accessing key features such as social interaction, publishing and commenting, sharing content, joining public groups, open channels, or large-scale interactive spaces.
Similarly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that children under 16 will soon be banned from using social media in the UK, a move he said is necessary to protect young people from harm and unhappiness. The announcement was made on June 15, 2026, through videos posted on his X and Instagram accounts.
