Clampdown on illegal colleges: Nigerian government initiates revalidation process

To curb the proliferation of illegal colleges and ensure the quality of education, the Nigerian government has embarked on a revalidation process targeting private educational institutions.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, recently disclosed the ongoing efforts during a press briefing.

Bugaje explained that the revalidation exercise specifically targeted private colleges, aiming to identify any unauthorized reopening of previously closed establishments.

He emphasized the importance of filtering the results meticulously to avoid legal complications.

“The exercise was concluded in December, and we are currently collating the results.

We will filter the data thoroughly to ensure accuracy and legality in our actions.

The final reports will be submitted to the ministry in February,” stated Bugaje.

The NBTE Executive Secretary highlighted the anomaly of discovering private colleges with minimal or no student enrollment during the exercise.

He questioned the purpose of these institutions and suggested that, if not serving an educational function, they might be involved in illegal activities.

“We have this record that many colleges don’t have students but we are seeing private colleges.

What are they doing? We want to know. If students are not there, we might advise them to close down, unless they are using it for illegal business,” Bugaje asserted.

Bugaje reassured the public that the essence of the exercise was to enhance the quality of education and strengthen certification standards.

The forthcoming reports, expected to be submitted in February, may lead to the closure of some institutions found to be operating illegally or not meeting educational standards.

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