Health Advocacy Group Sounds Alarm on Proliferation of Unregistered Health Colleges in Oyo State
A prominent health awareness mobilisation group, the Campaign For Better Public Health (CBPH), has issued a strong call to action, urging the Oyo State Ministry of Education and the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into the alarming spread of illegal colleges of health across Oyo State. In a statement released to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, the group highlighted the urgent need to address this critical issue to safeguard the future of students and maintain educational standards.
Exposing Unapproved Institutions: A List of Illegal Health Colleges
The CBPH, through its Director of Public Communication, Anthony Ojo, revealed that apart from the Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology in Eleyele, Ibadan, and the Iseyin College of Science and Health Technology, no other institutions in the state are currently listed on the NBTE's approved register. This disclosure underscores a significant gap in regulatory oversight, potentially putting countless students at risk of enrolling in unaccredited programs.
Ojo went on to name several specific illegal health colleges operating within the state, including:
- Ajorosun College of Health, Ibadan
- Impressive College of Nursing, Okeho, 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
According to the CBPH, all these private colleges are not recognized by the NBTE and are actively offering various courses, exploiting the lack of awareness among parents and guardians. Ojo emphasized, "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."
Urgent Calls for Action and Due Diligence
The group has made a fervent appeal to the Oyo State government to conduct thorough due diligence through the State's Ministry of Education. This includes verifying the registration status of these institutions with the ministry to ensure compliance with educational regulations. The CBPH stressed the necessity of alerting all stakeholders—including the Oyo State government, NBTE, parents, and guardians—to the proliferation of unregistered health institutions. This proactive measure aims to prevent innocent students from falling prey to fraudulent establishments that compromise their academic and professional futures.
This situation raises serious concerns about the integrity of health education in Oyo State, as unaccredited colleges may not meet the required standards for training healthcare professionals. The CBPH's alert serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regulatory enforcement in the education sector, particularly in fields like health where quality training is paramount for public safety.
