The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) made the discovery during a nationwide crackdown on unapproved institutions offering education programmes without government accreditation.
According to the NCCE's recent report, the commission identified and shut down the illegal colleges, and also conducted personnel audits and financial monitoring in all 21 federal colleges of education.
The move comes after President Bola Tinubu ordered federal education agencies to intensify efforts to eliminate illegal higher institutions across the country.
Speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tinubu warned that "certificate millers" are undermining the credibility of Nigeria's education system.
The President reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in education administration to enhance efficiency and quality.
The Federal Government is working with relevant agencies, including the National Youth Service Corps, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, and the National Universities Commission, to ensure the credibility of educational certificates and eliminate forgery and unrecognised institutions.