Accreditation lapses delay Oyo college graduates’ NYSC mobilisation

Graduates from the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology are uncertain of mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps scheme, as the institution fails to secure accreditation for some of its academic programmes.

The institution has yet to secure accreditation for courses in the Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Management, and the Department of Statistics, before admitting students.

Despite assurances, the accreditation issues remained unresolved 15 months after the 2022/23 graduates completed their studies.

The development left them barred from the mandatory national programme.

A graduate from the Department of Library and Information Science, who pleaded anonymity, said the institution assured them of getting accreditation for the courses.

“They told us the accreditation would be in place by the time we finished the programme, but that never happened.

“Instead of mobilising us for the NYSC, they asked us to pay N5,000 each, yet we haven’t been mobilized after payment,” he said.

He said the non-accreditation of courses by the institution had also affected the employment prospects of the graduates.

“Many have been unable to secure jobs due to the NYSC certificate being a prerequisite for employment.

“Even if we’re able to get jobs, we’re still being asked to bring our NYSC certificate and we can’t get that if the school doesn’t mobilise us,” he said.

Another graduate from the Faculty of Management said, “We are the first set of HND students from the faculty, and they did not tell us from the beginning that the courses were not accredited. Now they are lying to us, and our juniors have been mobilised while we remain in limbo.”

Some of the parents who had become frustrated over the accreditation issues also accused the college administration of not discussing the problems with the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde and the education minister.

They accused the authorities of the college being interested in convocation and collection of fees only, without making progress on the accreditation issues.

“The school held convocation after 11 months, likely to collect fees, but there has been no progress on mobilising these students for NYSC,” said one of the parents who spoke also on a condition of anonymity.

Reacting to the development, the National Association of Polytechnic Students wrote to the college’s Rector, demanding a resolution within seven days.

“We frown on this action because of its sensitivity and it should be addressed without any delay by the school management to avoid wasting and prolonging the educational year of the students,” the letter stated.

Speaking on the development, the Director of Student Affairs, Alhaji Onike Ramon, said the current management had secured accreditation for the affected courses.

“The last administration admitted some students before the accreditation of the courses. When this present management came in, they put machinery in motion to get the courses accredited. The affected courses are the Faculty of Management courses. Last year, the courses had been accredited,” he said.

He then said the problem was with the students who were admitted before the accreditation of the courses was concluded.

He said the institution was working with the NYSC, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, and the National Board for Technical Education to resolve the issue and ensure the affected students, around 200 in number, were mobilised for service.

“The management has even invited the representative of the NYSC to the school to dialogue with the students to let them see the efforts of the management in that regard. It is not a case of not accrediting the courses,” he said.

The Rector of OYCATECH, Prof Akinola Akinlabi, said, “Normally, you need to spend up to two years before you can be mobilised.

“I became the Rector just about a year and a few months ago. They got admitted about four years ago and they graduated last year. As of the time some of them got admitted, the programme had not been accredited. I had to make sure I got it accredited last year.”

The Rector stated that the rules of mobilization for the NYSC had since changed, with NBTE, JAMB, and NYSC requiring specific procedures before a student can be mobilised.

“The JAMB must give you a number and NBTE must send your name to the NYSC before you can be mobilized.

“The NBTE won’t send a list of students in programmes that are not accredited. Before the students can be mobilised would be towards the end of the year. Right now, I am in Abuja. I have been to Abuja more than four times on their issue,” he said.

The Rector expressed his commitment to resolving the issue and stressed that the delay was not his making.

“They should, instead, be praying that we get the issue resolved. I didn’t cause it. They are my children too, I want them to be mobilised.

“That’s why I am putting all these efforts. Currently, we are working on it for those who have graduated. For those who have not graduated, they will be mobilised immediately after they complete their programmes because there is full accreditation from the NBTE now,” Akinlabi stated.