Health Advocacy Group Sounds Alarm Over Illegal Health Colleges in Oyo
A prominent health awareness mobilization group, the Campaign For Better Public Health (CBPH), has issued a strong warning regarding the proliferation of illegal colleges of health across Oyo State. The organization is urgently calling on the Oyo State Ministry of Education and the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into these unregistered institutions.
Only Two Approved Institutions in the State
In a detailed statement released to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, the group emphasized that, according to official records, only two health colleges in Oyo State are currently approved by the NBTE. These are the Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology located in Eleyele, Ibadan, and the Iseyin College of Science and Health Technology. The CBPH asserts that no other institutions in the state have received the necessary accreditation from the national regulatory body.
The statement was signed by Anthony Ojo, the Director of Public Communication for the Campaign For Better Public Health. Ojo stressed the critical need to alert the Oyo State government, the NBTE, parents, and guardians about the widespread presence of these unregistered health colleges. The primary goal is to prevent innocent students from becoming victims of the operators behind these fraudulent establishments.
List of Alleged Illegal Colleges Named
The group specifically named several institutions that it claims are operating illegally without NBTE approval. These include:
- Ajorosun College of Health, Ibadan
- Impressive College of Nursing, Okeho, in Kajola Local Government
- Wecare College of Health, Ibadan
- Adelakun College of Health Technology, Ibadan
- Covenant College of Health, Ogbomoso
- Otolola College of Health Technology, Ibadan
- Premier College of Health, Ibadan
- Betsidal College of Health, Ogbomoso
Ojo elaborated, stating, "All these private colleges I mentioned are not listed in the approved list of NBTE and are currently running various courses. It is a pity that most of our parents and guardians are unaware of this, and it is my duty as a patriotic Nigerian to expose them."
Call for Government Action and Public Vigilance
The Campaign For Better Public Health is urging the Oyo State government to conduct thorough due diligence through the State's Ministry of Education. This should involve verifying the registration status of these colleges with the Ministry to ensure compliance with educational standards and regulations.
Ojo further emphasized, "We cannot sacrifice the future of our children and public health at the doorstep of pecuniary gain. Something must be done." The group is also using this platform to call on students, parents, guardians, and all interested stakeholders to proactively visit the official website of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to perform self-verification of any institution's accreditation status before enrollment.
This alarming situation highlights significant concerns about the quality of health education and the potential risks to public health if unqualified practitioners are produced by these illegal colleges. The CBPH's alert serves as a crucial reminder for all parties to prioritize regulatory compliance and safeguard educational integrity in the health sector.
