The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has reaffirmed its commitment to clamp down on unaccredited institutions operating illegally under the guise of polytechnics.
Speaking during an accreditation exercise at the Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, the NBTE Director of Polytechnic and Allied Programmes, Dr. Fatimah Kabir Umar, warned that such mushroom schools pose a serious threat to students’ future prospects and the Federal Government’s vision of quality education.
“Polytechnic education is central to skills development and national growth. We cannot allow unaccredited institutions to continue to exploit unsuspecting students,” Umar said.
She also encouraged lecturers to pursue continuous professional development, stressing that academic and industry relevance were crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s technical education sector.
The accreditation exercise reviewed programmes in Science and Management disciplines, including Cybersecurity, Software Development, and Business Administration.
In response, the institution’s Provost, Dr. Oluwatosin Adebayo, pledged that Harvarde College would continue to invest in infrastructure, manpower, and resources to fully meet NBTE’s accreditation standards.
The Board maintained that ongoing efforts to sanitize the polytechnic sector are aimed at protecting students, restoring confidence in technical education, and ensuring graduates remain competitive both locally and globally.
