Our attention has been drawn to a document in the social media that indicates a letter of admission into one Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, to study Medical Laboratory Science in that institution as attached.
As the body of academics and researchers of Medical Laboratory Science profession teaching in the Universities in Nigeria wish to inform the general public as follows:
- Medical Laboratory Science is not offered in Polytechnics anywhere in the world. Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, like any other polytechnic, does not have what it takes to offer any medical course. Such requirements include teaching hospital, Accredited Faculty/Department of a University by the National Universities Commission and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and seasoned Academics including Professors in the different specialties of Medical Science are required to train and teach Medical Laboratory Science students. Polytechnics do not have these human and material resources considering their missions and visions in their staff, especially do not have anything to do with teaching hospitals for the professional training of Medical Laboratory Scientists as approved by the National Universities Commission and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
- Medical Laboratory Science programme which initially awards Associate of the Institute of the Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria (AIMLT ) adjudged by the Federal Ministry of Education to be equivalent of the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science empowered by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act 11 of the 2003 which established the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria to regulate training and practice of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria which requires a basic qualification of an academic staff to possess the Associate Status of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria in addition to other academic degrees as prescribed by the National Universities Commission is not administered through distance learning or affiliations. Therefore, no university is allowed to affiliate any Polytechnic to offer Medical Laboratory Science programme. The programme that is Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science(B.MLS) or Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS.D) resides in the university
- Every Medical Laboratory Science programme is accredited by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). The Education Act does not empower the NUC to accredit any programme in the Polytechnics; only the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) can accredit Polytechnic programmes. Similarly, MLSCN cannot accredit a degree programme in a Polytechnic, knowing that it has to work together with the NUC.
- Graduates of any Medical Laboratory Science programme that is not accredited by both the NUC and MLSCN cannot be licensed to practice the profession, whether in Nigeria or any other country in the world.
- 5. That we are not aware of any Law in Nigeria that empowers any polytechnic, including Ibom Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to run Medical Laboratory Science programme, or that empowers any university, including Gregory University, Uturu, Abia state, to affiliate any polytechnic to offer Medical Laboratory Science programme. Therefore, the existence of such programmes anywhere in Nigeria amounts to fraud and illegality.
We are, therefore, calling on the Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and the Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, to withdraw the said document, and offer public apology to our Association, for portraying Medical Laboratory Science in bad light.
The public is also advised to seek clarification about Medical Laboratory Science programme from the NUC and MLSCN. Anyone who patronizes such illegal programmes does so at their own risk.
Signed.
Prof. M. F. Olaniyan
National President
Dr. K. N. Elechi-Amadi
National Secretary
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