Implementation of a Blockchain-Based Certificate Verification System for Nigerian Polytechnics

Certificate forgery remains a significant challenge within Nigeria's higher education sector, undermining employer trust in graduate credentials. This project implements a blockchain-based certificate verification system tailored for Nigerian polytechnics, with a pilot focus on Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Imo State, South East Nigeria. The system uses the Ethereum blockchain and Solidity smart contracts to issue tamper-proof digital certificates, while a web interface allows employers and institutions to verify credentials without contacting the issuing institution. The research adopts the prototyping methodology, with two iterative cycles of development informed by interviews with 20 academic registrars and 15 corporate recruiters. The verification process was benchmarked against the existing manual verification method on speed, accuracy, and cost. Results demonstrate that blockchain verification reduces credential confirmation time from an average of 5 days to under 3 minutes, with zero false verifications recorded during testing. The study addresses concerns about blockchain scalability and high gas fees by evaluating layer-2 solutions as a cost mitigation approach. Findings contribute to the growing discourse on educational technology in Nigeria and provide a template for adoption across the country's 173 accredited polytechnics. Keywords: blockchain, certificate verification, Ethereum, credential forgery, Nigerian polytechnic