The CAC Registration Scam at Yakubu Gowon University: A Tale of Broken Promises and Exploitation

As a student leader at Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), I have witnessed firsthand the mounting frustrations and disillusionment of my peers over the compulsory Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration scheme introduced under the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah. What began as a seemingly progressive initiative to equip students with entrepreneurial credentials has devolved into a troubling saga of unfulfilled promises, financial exploitation, and administrative opacity. Years after its inception, students—myself included—are left questioning: why are we forced to pay for certificates that never materialize, even long after graduation?

The compulsory CAC registration was introduced around the 2020/2021 academic session, marketed as a golden opportunity for students to secure a business registration certificate alongside their degrees. The idea was initially welcomed—after all, who wouldn’t want a head start in entrepreneurship? The administration assured us of a seamless process, promising that for a fee of ₦11,000, every student would receive their CAC certificate upon fulfilling the requirements. It sounded like a win-win: the university would facilitate the process, and we would graduate with a tangible asset to kickstart our careers.

But the reality has been far from seamless. Students who paid the fee as far back as 2020/2021—many of whom have since graduated and even completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)—are still empty-handed. No certificates have been issued, no updates provided, and no accountability offered. The question looms large: what happened to the money collected from thousands of students over the years?

Fast forward to 2024, the situation has only worsened. The fee for the compulsory CAC registration was hiked from ₦11,000 to a staggering ₦18,000, with additional charges imposed by the UniAbuja Microfinance Bank. This bank, now operating more like a predatory point-of-sale (POS) business, slaps students with transaction fees for every payment, further inflating the cost of an already dubious process. When students protested this steep increase, we were placated with yet another promise: a new consultant had been contracted to ensure a “seamless” delivery of certificates. Pay the higher fee, we were told, and your certificate would arrive “as soon as possible.”

Yet, here we are in 2025, and the promises remain hollow. The 2021 set, most of whom have completed NYSC, still await their certificates. Current students in session fare no better—four years into their academic journey, they have nothing to show for the payments extracted from them. It begs the question: is this a legitimate initiative gone wrong, or a calculated scheme to fleece students under the guise of empowerment?

The irregularities surrounding the CAC registration are compounded by a pervasive culture of fear on campus. Students hesitate to speak out, wary of repercussions such as expulsion or academic victimization. This fear has allowed the administration to operate with impunity, collecting funds without delivering results. As a student leader, I’ve heard countless whispered complaints—stories of financial strain as students borrow or scrape together funds to meet these compulsory payments, only to be left in limbo. The silence is deafening, but it’s time to break it.

The lack of transparency raises serious red flags. With thousands of students paying between ₦11,000 and ₦18,000 over the years, the university has amassed significant sums. Yet, there’s no evidence of progress—no certificates, no public updates, no accountability. Was the money misappropriated? Did the consultants fail to deliver, and if so, why hasn’t the university held them accountable? Or is this simply another layer of exploitation, preying on students too timid to demand answers?

The involvement of the UniAbuja Microfinance Bank adds further suspicion. Why are students forced to pay additional transaction fees for a compulsory school requirement? Why is a university-affiliated bank profiting off these payments, turning a supposed academic initiative into a commercial racket? These are questions the administration must answer.

We, the students of Yakubu Gowon University, urge Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Patricia Manko Lar to investigate these irregularities with urgency and transparency. If the university cannot deliver on its promises, it has no business collecting our money. We call for an independent probe—perhaps by SERVICOM—to unravel the mess and hold those responsible accountable. Furthermore, if the contracted consultants are unequal to the task, students should be allowed to register directly with the CAC themselves, bypassing this flawed middleman system.

The compulsory CAC registration was meant to empower us, not exploit us. Four years is too long to wait for a certificate we’ve paid for—a certificate that, for many, may never come. Prof. Manko Lar, the ball is in your court. Restore our faith in this institution by addressing this scam head-on. We deserve answers, and we deserve justice.