Credential fraud remains a longstanding challenge in the global job market, with candidates often falsifying or exaggerating their qualifications, work experience, and academic credentials. In Nigeria, where professional and academic certifications play a crucial role in hiring decisions, the risk of credential fraud has prompted employers to adopt innovative verification solutions.
A 2023 Job Applicant Behavior Survey by ResumeLab found that 70% of job seekers admit to lying on their resumes, often inflating job titles, extending employment durations, or even inventing fake companies and degrees. These practices pose significant risks, particularly for specialized roles where accuracy is critical, such as in the healthcare and financial sectors.
One of the emerging solutions to tackle this issue is Akowe Verify, a platform designed to verify the academic records of Nigerian graduates. Akowe Verify allows employers and HR professionals to confirm candidates’ academic credentials, including the institutions they attended, the degrees they earned, and their graduation dates.
For its initial rollout, the platform has digitized records from seven top Nigerian universities, including:
- University of Lagos
- Lagos State University
- Olabisi Onabanjo University
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- Covenant University
- University of Ilorin
- University of Ibadan
These records were extracted from public convocation publications, allowing Akowe Verify to operate independently of direct university partnerships. “These are public academic records. We didn’t have to do any collaboration or partnership,” explained Ayodeji Agboola, CEO of Akowe Verify.
Currently, Akowe Verify uses six key data points for validation: the candidate’s name, institution, faculty, degree, grade, and year of graduation. Future updates will introduce peer verification, enabling graduates to validate each other’s credentials and earn verification scores.
Agboola highlights that industries such as banking, oil and gas, and immigration—where verified credentials are essential—are primary beneficiaries of the platform. Beyond convenience, Akowe Verify also presents a revenue opportunity for educational institutions.
“Schools already receive fees for verification services, but due to slow and cumbersome processes, recruiters often prefer third-party solutions,” Agboola said. Each verification request on Akowe Verify costs ₦20,000, offering a scalable and efficient alternative to traditional methods.
The rise of credential verification platforms like Akowe Verify reflects a broader trend in Nigeria, where background checks have evolved into a structured industry. Companies such as Background Check International (BCI), the country’s pioneer in background screening, now offer services beyond employment verification, including:
- Tenant and vendor background checks
- Pensioner verification
- Spouse background checks
- Criminal and credit record checks
- Social media and personal reference verification
Despite the growing demand for background checks, employers must navigate legal frameworks that protect candidates’ privacy rights. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), alongside laws like the Labour Act 2004 and the Cybercrime Act, mandates that employers obtain explicit consent from candidates before accessing their personal information.
Recruiters typically conduct background checks after a conditional job offer is made, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and minimizing the risk of discrimination during the hiring process.
Similar regulations, such as those enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), exist globally to safeguard candidates’ privacy and ensure fair hiring practices.
As credential fraud continues to challenge the integrity of the hiring process, experts recommend that employers partner with accredited third-party verification companies.
These firms offer the expertise and credibility needed to ensure accurate and reliable results, protecting employers from potential legal liabilities and enhancing the integrity of their recruitment practices.
With platforms like Akowe Verify leading the way, Nigeria’s recruitment landscape is poised for a transformation, where technology and transparency play pivotal roles in shaping the future of work.