Agency petitions FG, NBTE, NASS as illegal polytechnics flood Nigeria

The Association of Private Polytechnics’ Founders and Rectors in Nigeria (APPFRN), Pastor Bassey James has expressed worry over the proliferation of over 100 illegal polytechnics operating across states in Nigeria, including Akwa Ibom State, disclosing that the agency has petitioned the state government, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Assembly and state Assemblies, to address the anomaly.

Addressing journalists at the correspondent arena, on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital, the national president of the Association, Pastor Bassey James, who doubles as the proprietor of the Southern Atlantic Polytechnic (SAPoly), explained that the problem was a big threat to quality higher education in the country.

According to James, such illegal outlets have become centres where fake certificates are sold to desperate people with poor Ordinary Level certificates which normally serve as entry point requirements into higher institutions.

Pastor James who decried the indiscriminate proliferation of polytechnics in Akwa Ibom State, said the association had written to both the national and state assemblies, NBTE and the Ministry of Education, intimating them of the worrisome developments, adding that he had met with some of the perpetrators of the illegal business in the sector and given them a timeline within which they should close shops or be ready for to face sanctions.

“Considering the way the association is moving, in the next one year, illegal polytechnics would be eradicated in the state”, he assured.

James noted that the effect of the illegal institutions is to churn out half-baked graduates who have nothing to offer the society adding that such was a crime against humanity as well as the society.

He however called on the Ministry of Education to lend its voice on the campaign against the menace.

He said: “I have written to the Federal government, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), national and state assemblies about the dangers of these illegal polytechnics and the need to clamp down on them. I have even raised the issue with the national board of technical education and they promised to do something. I know some of the people who are doing this illegal business and I’ve given them timeline.

“This is a crime against humanity, against quality education and something has to be done.”

Speaking on the forth coming matriculation of his institution, James said over 300 students would partake in the ceremony even as admissions were still ongoing in the institution.

He hinted that the official launching of the institution’s entrepreneurial initiatives such as Sapoly FC and Sapoly Fashion/Shoes would be done at the event.

On the harmonisation of the  HND/BSC dichotomy by president Muhammadu Buhari, Mr James said such lacuna and disparity was disheartening considering the experience  a HND graduates  garnered during the mandatory internship programmes

He commended the president for removing the dichotomy, noting that graduates of polytechnics have a brighter future for national development.

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