No less than 16 unlawful polytechnics are currently operating in the nation, according to the Federal Government’s National Board for Technical Education.
The board also stated that students who received certificates from the institutions would not be permitted to continue their education, get work, or be enlisted in the National Youth Service Corps program, which is required of all young people.
The NBTE had also notified security authorities to shut down the errant institutions, according to a report made accessible to newsmen.
The NBTE is the Federal Government agency domiciled in the Ministry of Education and responsible for the monitoring of polytechnics, monotechnics and innovation enterprise institutions.
The NBTE, which is statutorily mandated to regulate technical and vocational education in Nigeria, warned the general public, especially parents and prospective candidates, about some individuals and institutions admitting students to study courses in unapproved and illegal institutions and/or institutions running unapproved programmes purportedly affiliated to either approved or unapproved polytechnics.
The board pointed out that the institutions had not been licensed by the Federal Government and were operating illegally.
It listed some of the affected institutions as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (Ibillo and Ekiti study centres); Kano State College of Health Sciences and Technology, BUK; University of Ibadan Consultancy Services, Ladoke Akintola Technology, Ogbomosho; Kwara State University, Malete study centre; Awgu College of Medical Science and Health Technology, Awgu; Eastern Polytechnic, Port Harcourt (Abuja and Madalla study centres; Interlink Polytechnic, Ijebu-Jesa (Nyanya and Gwagwalada study centres); and Oke Ogun College of Management Science and Technology, Iseyin.
Others are First Mark Innovative School of Technology, Ado-Ekiti (Rufus Giwa Study Centre); Delight College of Health Science and Technology, Minna; Jama’atu School of Health Technology, Zaria; Kanam Unity College of Health Technology, Dengi; Savannah School of Health Technology, Wudil; Owoseni College of Health Sciences, Ijesa-Isu Ekiti; Southern Maritime Academy, Uwheru, Ughelli; Wolex Polytechnic, Ediene Ikot Obio Imo; Ibeku Polytechnic, Ibeku; and Atlas Polytechnic, Uzuakoli.
The country’s tertiary education sector has been riddled with challenges surrounding the establishment of illegal universities, colleges of education and polytechnics.
Punch
