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The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has reasserted its dedication to combating unaccredited schools that pose as polytechnics, cautioning that these actions jeopardize the government’s efforts to provide high-standard education.

In recent years, Nigeria has seen an increase in so-called “mushroom” polytechnics — educational institutions functioning without proper recognition or sufficient resources. Numerous such schools are missing qualified instructors, appropriate infrastructure, and established syllabi, thus jeopardizing the academic and career prospects of their students.

During an accreditation visit at Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies in Obada, Abeokuta, the Director of Polytechnic and Allied Programmes at NBTE, Dr. Fatimah Kabir Umar, stated, “We have been battling against fraudulent institutions that falsely claim to be what they are not. We will not cease our efforts to combat such entities in the interest of protecting what is best for the country. Yes, we are aware that there will always be a few bad actors around, but we will keep fighting them and ensure they do not hinder the government’s dedication to delivering quality education at all levels.”

She highlighted that polytechnic education in Nigeria is moving in the correct path, pointing out that it continues to be essential for building a skilled and capable workforce for the country.

“Yes, knowledge is beneficial, but we cannot rely entirely on a single approach. In terms of applying this knowledge, polytechnic education has been at the forefront, which is why it has continued to be relevant in fostering a more prosperous nation,” Umar stated.

Umar stated that the NBTE team had visited the institution to evaluate programs in the areas of science and management, such as Business Administration and Computer Science, which have since been divided into specific courses like Software Development and Cybersecurity. She mentioned that the school’s facilities and infrastructure had seen improvements, but encouraged faculty members to enhance their own growth by becoming part of professional organizations, participating in conferences, and contributing to academic publications.

She also commended the college administration for supporting the federal government’s initiative to enhance the quality of higher education and encouraged them to continue their dedication to maintaining excellence.

The founder and Provost of Harvard College, Dr. Oluwatosin Adebayo, mentioned that the NBTE inspection reviewed approximately eight courses, such as Film and Multimedia Production, Journalism and Media Studies, Accountancy, Business Administration, Law, Networking and Cloud Computing, and Software and Web Development.

He mentioned that the visit also involved the accreditation of Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, enabling graduates to take part in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Adebayo stated that site visits for accreditation take place every two years as part of regular quality control procedures. He emphasized the institution’s commitment to continuous funding designed to strengthen its position in the educational field.

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