Education

Accreditation, Our Key Challenge – CHST’s Provost

Published

10 years ago

February 1, 2016

Iam an insider: I was a
student here, grew through the rank and file, became a lecturer, held different positions, sometimes as Head of Department (HOD), then Director in the school, and finally, now, the Acting Provost.
“So, I am part and parcel of this college. I know everything about this institution, hence, my focus is to ensure that I put in place policies aimed at improving the academic profile of the institution.
These were the words of the Acting Provost of Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Dr Nnamdi Amadi.
In an exclusive interview with The Tide, Dr Amadi who is the second internally generated head of the school, explained that his goal of improving the academic profile of the college and ensuring that it is reckoned with in terms of excellence was achievable.
The key challenge, he said is provision of necessary facilities like well equipped classrooms, laboratories and hostels among others, stressing that they were the core problems facing the school, which his administration must strive to overcome inorder to attain excellence. According to him, this would ensure that all the programmes and courses in the institution attain accreditation.
Towards ensuring that the school attains that required excellence, he said, every other aspects have been fine-tuned to make it easier for the school to forge ahead.
“It is going to be easy because in this institution, we work as a family. All hands are on deck to ensure that we achieve our aim: the Bursary, Academic Planning and every other Departments as well as staff and students work closely towards taking the institution to an enviable height”, he explained.
Beyond these challenges, Dr Amadi acknowledged the importance of finance in executing and or putting in place necessary facilities which are criteria for the programmes in the school to be accredited.
“Already, there are excruciating challenges which we have in this college. The major challenge is to ensure that all our courses are accredited, because without accreditation, the certificates we award may amount to nothing since accreditation is what gives meaning to the certificates.
Accreditation, the Acting Provost explained, passes through various stages: It starts with the school putting in place necessary facilities before inviting the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to undertake an assessment visit. This is followed by another visit during which provisional or full accreditation is given to programmes depending on state of facilities available.
From 2014 when the NBTE accorded a provisional accreditation status to three programmes, out of eleven in the college, he said, efforts to improve on the facilities in the school have been near impossible due to the fact that management of the school had to rely on only Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which he said, is barely enough to provide other equally necessary services in running the school.
Such services, according to him, include provision of essential services such as water and light, security, payment of casual staff and the day-to-day running of the school.
Consequently, the college now faces the possibility of not only losing the provisional accreditation given to three of its programmes, but also not having a chance of the remaining eight programmes being accredited.
“By now, we are supposed to call on NBTE for full accreditation to those programmes we have already gotten provisional accreditation, and, possibly, get accreditation for Higher National Diploma (HND).
“But because of lack of finance, we have not been able to secure full accreditation for these other ones we have gotten. As I talk to you now, we are almost at the verge of losing the accreditation we have gotten”, he lamented.
A cursory look at facilities on ground in the campus reveals that accommodation for instance, is far below the over 4,000 students that require to be accommodated in the campus.
What the college has as a library and laboratory could at best go for a rickety arrangement to fulfil all righteousness.
This is by far below modern standard in which institutions now compete in such fields as e-library and the most equipped laboratories suitable to dispense what is required of a modern college of health sciences and technology.
Some of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed personal fears regarding the status of their certificates if their programmes are not accredited by NBTE.
“The implication is that whatever we are struggling for, the pains we are going through in order to have a certificate will amount to nothing if our certificates cannot be recognised when we go to seek for job.
“This is why we are appealing to the government to please come to our aid by doing the needful so that programmes in this school can be accredited by the relevant authorities”, some of the students expressed pleaded.
Dr Amadi explained further that although several efforts have been made to present the challenges of the school to the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike since his assumption of office in May, 2015, the political situation had made it difficult.
“But now that the Supreme Court has upheld his election, I believe that as a Governor that listens to the plight of his people, he is going to attend to the challenges”, he said.
He expressed fears over the worst case scenario should the NBTE withdraw the provisional accreditation given the three programme of the college and the possibility, of not accrediting any other programme.
“If we lose accreditation for those programmes, it means we are going back to the starting point.
“For us to regain the accreditation, it means we have to go back to the basics to provide those facilities, and it will be terrible.
“Moreso, it will also lead to a kind of retrenchment, because if we do not have money to sustain some of the programmes, definitely, we will step some of the programmes down.
“When we do this, lecturers who teach those programmes both part time and full time, will have to leave as well, and this will add to the unemployment situation in the state”, he said.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Dr Nnamdi Amadi

Education

FG, ASUU Set Date to Sign Agreement

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government is set to formally sign an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities following weeks of negotiations.

The development may be linked to the 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff proposed by the FG last month and accepted by the union.

A circular issued by the Ministry of Education invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.

The circular, dated January 5, 2026, and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’

The circular was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities.

“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed

Attendance at the ceremony was declared mandatory for all invited university administrators, highlighting the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

Last month, the industrial crisis that had burdened Nigeria’s university system for 16 years following the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement saw the union accept the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.

It was reported that the deal, effective from January 1, 2026, would be reviewed after three years

Why FG Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Non-Implementation of Council Autonomy

Under the new terms, professors will earn a pension equivalent to their final annual salary upon retirement at age 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Other provisions include improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts. The pact also guarantees that no staff member involved in past industrial actions will be victimised.

Education

DSS, Rector Warn Kogi Poly Students Against Vices,Rumours

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Kogi State Directorate of the Department of State Services (DSS) has warned fresh students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, that security on campus is a shared responsibility, stressing that carelessness, poor judgment and rumour-mongering pose and ostentatious living pose greater dangers than most real threats.

The Director of the Department in the state, gave the warning in his speech, titled,”MANAGING SECURITY AND RUMORS ON CAMPUS at the 33rd Matriculation Ceremony for the students of 2025/2026 academic session of the Polytechnic on Thursday in Lokoja.

The director, represented by A. S. MUSA, emphasised that while Lokoja remains largely peaceful, no campus is immune from security challenges.

He identified theft of phones, laptops and wallets, infiltration of hostels by unauthorised persons, risky late-night movements and online scams targeting fresh students as recurring threats, most of which, he noted, are preventable through vigilance and discipline.

The security agency cautioned students against behaviours that weaken personal safety, including lack of security consciousness, predictable routines, drug abuse, drunkenness, sexual recklessness, ostentatious living and the lure of secret cults.

According to the DSS director,cultism, often disguised as “protection,” ultimately places students under violent control systems with devastating consequences, while flamboyant lifestyles and careless displays of wealth attract criminal attention.

Our correspondent reports that a major focus of the lecture was the danger of rumours, which the DSS described as “more destructive than real threats.”

According to him,false alerts about kidnappers, armed attacks, school closures or emergency evacuations,often spread through WhatsApp messages and voice notes,have previously triggered panic, stampedes and academic disruption on campuses, sometimes putting lives at risk without any verified danger.School supplies

He, therefore, advised to verify information strictly through official Polytechnic channels such as management announcements, Student Affairs notices and campus security units. The DSS boss warned that forwarding unconfirmed messages makes students unwitting accomplices in spreading fear and destabilising the academic environment.

On personal safety, he also urged students to always carry their identity cards, avoid lonely and poorly lit areas at night, secure their hostel rooms, challenge suspicious strangers and promptly report unusual activities.

He cautioned students to remain calm, obedient to lawful instructions and refuse to act on hearsay, adding that these virtues are critical responses during emergencies.

The DSS director reminded the matriculating students that security goes beyond physical safety to include protection of reputation, mental stability and future prospects.

By rejecting rumours, cultism and reckless living, and by embracing responsibility and alertness, students can be rest assured that Kogi State Polytechnic can remain a safe, peaceful and conducive centre of learning for all.

Declaring event open, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof.Salisu Ogba Usman, matriculated 4,591 students into seven schools and 57 academic programmes of the Polytechnic.

“Of this number,2460 students (54 percent) are admitted into National Diploma Progrmes, while 2,131 students (46 percent)are admitted into Higher National Diploma 1 programmes”,Usman said.

He further reviewed that 19 out of the 57 Programmes currently run by the polytechnic were introduced under the present administration in the state.

Prof.Usmam expressed the continued commitment of the Polytechnic to uphold discipline, transparency,and zero tolerance for all forms of social Vices ,while promoting peaceful coexistence,responsible leadership and mutual respect.

“Our emphasis on security, moral discipline and academic integrity is non-, negotiable and central to our institutional philosophy,” the Rector stressed.

He urged the new students to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the Polytechnic and to conduct themselves in ways that will bring honour to their families ,the Polytechnic and the nation at large.

Usman said the polytechnic has pursued inclusive leadership by institutionalizing transparency, strengthening staff welfare engagement,and integrating student leadership into governance processes.

According to him the gender distribution is equally encouraging, with 52 percent, male and 48 percent female, representing steady progress in the gender balance of the Polytechnic.

He promised that the “shall continue to uphold discipline, transparency and zero tolerance for all forms of social vices,while promoting peaceful coexistence,responsible leadership and mutual respect.

The Rector stressed that the emphasis of the Polytechnic on security, moral discipline and academic integrity is non-negotiable and central to its institutional philosophy.

He urged the new students to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the polytechnic and conduct themselves in ways that will bring honour to their families,the polytechnic and the nation at large.

“Together we shall continue to reposition Kogi State Polytechnic as a reference point for excellence in polytechnic education in Nigeria,” he promised.

Education

FG Bans Disposable workbooks, introduces reusable textbooks in schools

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has rolled out a new education policy banning disposable workbooks and mandating the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks in schools, in a move aimed at reducing the rising cost of education for parents, improving learning outcomes and promoting environmental sustainability.School supplies

The policy was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaba Sai’d, as part of sweeping reforms targeted at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector and easing the financial burden on families.

Under the new framework, schools are required to adopt standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years.

The policy expressly prohibits the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice the government says has inflated school expenses and contributed to unnecessary waste.

According to the ministers, the reusable textbook initiative will enable siblings to share learning materials across academic sessions, significantly reduce recurring education costs for parents and limit waste generation within the school system, thereby advancing national sustainability goals.

As part of the broader reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning and school planning across the country.