The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has issued a warning over individuals and online platforms allegedly offering fraudulent teacher registration, certification and licensing services.

TRCN Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Ronke Soyombo, said teachers, school owners and prospective applicants should not deal with individuals claiming to be authorised agents of the council.

Soyombo issued the warning in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday following reports that some individuals and groups were allegedly using TRCN’s identity to defraud members of the public.

According to her, the council has not authorised agents, consultants, third parties or staff members to collect money or process teacher registration, certification, licensing, employment or promotion outside official procedures.

She said TRCN’s official website remains its only approved online platform for information about its programmes and services.

The registrar specifically warned stakeholders to be careful about information circulated through social media, WhatsApp, emails and websites that claim to provide TRCN services.

Teachers seeking registration or certification may encounter individuals promising to complete the process on their behalf, but TRCN said such unofficial arrangements are not recognised by the council.

Soyombo also warned against transferring money into personal bank accounts.

She said payments for TRCN services should not be made through personal accounts and warned that certificates or licences obtained through unofficial processes would not be recognised.

The registrar described such certificates and licences as fake and invalid.

She advised anyone who has already paid money to suspected fraudsters or received suspicious messages, calls or payment requests claiming to come from TRCN to report the matter to security agencies.

Affected persons should also notify the council through its official communication channels.

Soyombo said TRCN’s legal advisers and relevant law enforcement agencies had been directed to investigate cases involving people allegedly impersonating the council or defrauding members of the public.

She said the council would seek prosecution of those found to have committed such offences.

The warning highlights the importance of verifying teacher certification and licensing information directly through TRCN’s recognised channels.

The council is responsible for regulating the teaching profession through registration, certification and licensing processes.

TRCN said the integrity of these processes was essential to maintaining professional standards within Nigeria’s education sector.

Teachers and school owners have consequently been advised to verify information before making payments or responding to offers concerning TRCN services.

The council said it remained committed to protecting the credibility of teacher registration, certification and licensing in Nigeria.

It also urged stakeholders to exercise caution when approached by individuals claiming to have special access to TRCN services or promising to obtain certificates, licences, jobs or promotions outside official procedures.