Tension has gripped the Edo State Ministry of Health following a controversial appointment by the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, who has reportedly engaged his brother, Nelson Tenebe with questionable credentials, to head the Edo State Hospital Management Agency (HMA).

Nelson Tenebe who was recently appointed as the Executive Secretary /Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Hospital Management Agency (HMA) on the back of his brother’s influence, is said to have doubtful certificates, stirring confusion and controversy within the State’s health sector.

According to his letter of appointment, Nelson holds a National Certificate of Education in Agricultural Science from Agbor, which is equivalent to a National Diploma from any Nigerian Polytechnic.

He was also said to have acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Master’s Degree in Nursing, and a Doctorate Degree in Nursing from Bestower University, Republic of Benin.

Further investigations however revealed that the Bestower University does not have a medical school and does not offer nursing or medical courses. The university’s curriculum is limited to courses such as Biochemistry and Microbiology.

Also, the Republic of Benin does not currently have any accredited medical school within its borders, raising serious doubts about the authenticity of Nelson Tenebe’s claims regarding his advanced degrees in nursing and medical education.

Recall however that the Federal government had banned the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, sacking civil servants with degrees from private tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, as a result of certificate racketeering.

This followed an undercover investigation report in which a Daily Nigerian journalist acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic in two months and used it to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme, exposing the blatant fraud with over 22,500 Nigerians obtaining fake degree certificates from both countries.

These discrepancies have raised alarms about the legitimacy of Nelson Tenebe’s qualifications and his fitness to oversee the management of the healthcare in Edo State.

“The appointment into such a critical role demands transparency, competence, and verifiable credentials, given its direct impact on public health and the administration of hospitals in the State,” a source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent.

The source added, “There is palpable tension in the health sector of the anomaly. How can a National Diploma holder in Agricultural Science be made to head and oversee the Edo State Hospital Management Agency (HMA) with doubtful certificates, and no qualification or experience related to his given job, while there are various professional and experts within the system who are more qualified, experienced and competent for that role. Must everything be politicized? At least not the health and wellbeing of Edo people. This is dirty politics taken too far and Okpebholo must be called to order and warned to desist from playing politics with the health and safety of Edo people.”