UI to shred certificates unclaimed for over 10 years

The university warned that certificates that remain uncollected for more than 10 years would be liable to shredding.

The provision represents the longest period allowed under the new guidelines for graduates to claim their certificates before the institution takes the stated disposal action.

The university did not indicate in the bulletin any further procedure for recovering a certificate after it has been shredded.

The institution advised graduates and other relevant stakeholders to take note of the new requirements and comply with the stipulated timelines and payment obligations.

The guidelines place different obligations on graduates depending on how long their academic documents remain uncollected, beginning with the six-month deadline for Statements of Result and extending to the 10-year limit for certificates.

The university said Statements of Result would provide graduates with an interim record of their academic qualification for two years, while the certificate would remain the institution’s permanent evidence of graduation.

Graduates are therefore expected to complete the collection process within the specified periods to avoid the applicable non-collection penalties.

The N2,500 penalty applies to Statements of Result that are not collected within six months of notification, while the N25,000 and N50,000 penalties apply to certificates collected after one year but within five years, and after five years but within 10 years, respectively.

The university’s guidelines also make clear that the applicable penalties do not replace the N7,500 statutory fee for certificate issuance and collection.

The institution urged graduates to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines and ensure timely collection of their academic documents.

The new policy, as outlined in the September 15 bulletin, provides a structured timeline for the collection of Statements of Result and certificates and establishes financial penalties for delayed collection, with certificates remaining unclaimed beyond 10 years liable to shredding.