The National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling unaccredited institutions masquerading as polytechnics, warning that such “mushroom” entities undermine the government’s efforts to deliver quality education nationwide.
Speaking during an NBTE accreditation visit to Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Obada, Abeokuta, the Director of Polytechnic and Allied Programmes, Dr. Fatimah Kabir Umar, stressed that while the sector faces challenges, polytechnic education in Nigeria continues to play a crucial role in skills development for national progress.
“Fake institutions claiming to be polytechnics threaten the nation’s educational standards. While a few bad eggs may exist, we will persist in safeguarding the integrity of tertiary education,” Umar said.
She highlighted that polytechnic education has remained relevant by equipping students with practical skills that contribute to technological and economic advancement. “Knowledge alone is not enough; execution matters, and polytechnic education has led the way in applying knowledge for nation-building,” she added.
During the visit, Umar noted that Harvarde College’s facilities and infrastructure meet the required standards. However, she encouraged lecturers to enhance their professional development through membership in relevant bodies, attending conferences, publishing research, and staying current in their fields.
Umar commended the school’s management for complementing federal efforts to provide quality tertiary education and urged continued investment in excellence to uphold NBTE standards.
The college’s founder and provost, Dr. Oluwatosin Adebayo, explained that the visit was part of NBTE’s routine accreditation process, covering programs in areas such as Film and Multimedia Production, Journalism and Media Studies, Accountancy, Business Administration, Law, Networking and Cloud Computing, Software and Web Development, and HND programs in Accountancy, Business Administration, and Computer Science.
“This periodic accreditation ensures quality assurance and allows our students to participate in the National Youth Service Corps,” Adebayo said, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to maintaining high standards and continuous development.
0 Comments