Imoke Closes Eleven Tertiary Schools

The Cross River State Government has ordered the immediate closure of eleven private tertiary institutions operating in the state.

The government’s directive which was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr Michael Egbudu, said the affected schools had failed to comply with registration formalities as well as quality control.

The statement reads in part: ”the state Ministry of Education has observed with dismay the recalcitrant attitude of illegal operators of tertiary institutions across the state who have blatantly refused to comply with government directive to close down their activities.

”The attitude of these illegal tertiary institutions operators and their persistent activities are not only embarrassing to the government, but detrimental to the educational development of the state.”

The affected schools whose closure also received the endorsement of the Commissioner for Education, Professor Offiong E.Offiong, include Logos Christian College and Graduate School USA Nigeria, Wolex Polytecnic c/o Eastern Secondary Commercial School Ediba, Lagos Aviation / Maritime Business School (LAMBS), and African Thinkers Corner College of Education Abini.

Others are African Thinkers College of Education Ikom, School of Basic Studies Awi, Certificate Institution of Shipping Ogoja, School of Economics Obudu, Flight Marine Academy Obubura, Urban University Ugep, and All Over Polytechnic, Ukwel, Obudu.

Reacting to the purported closure of the private tertiary institutions, a proprietor of one of the shut institutions, who is the President/Chairman, Board of the Governing Council of Wolex Polytechnic, Lagos, Engr Wole Adepoju, denied that the Polytechnic was an illegal institution.

He contended that Wolex Polytechnic was fully and duly registered with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Engineer Adepoju told P.M.NEWS through the Proprietor of ACCET Polytechnic Calabar, an affiliate of Wolex Polytechnic, Lagos, Prince [Dr] Idorenyin Etokobong that the institution is duly registered with the Federal Government of Nigeria under Decree 9 of 1999 and wondered why the Ministry of Education would take such a hasty decision without proper investigations.

Dr Etokobong who also used the forum to clarify issues concerning the ACCET Polytechnic said: “I entered into and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wolex Polytechnic, Lagos (an approved private tertiary institution established in accordance with Decree 9 of 1999 and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for moderations and issuance of certificates.”

He said the MOU has the full knowledge and backing of the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE).

According to him, ACCET Polytechnic has over 40 qualified lecturers most of whom are Ph.D holders, a vast space and facilities in line with NBTE standards, adding that currently the school was making efforts to access N100 million loan from a bank to put in place all necessary facilities for its expansion.

”We have made arrangement for over 50 acres of land at Ikot Effanga and we are close to obtaining a bank guarantee of N100 million.We are awaiting the bank’s approval,” said Etokobong who is also the proprietor of ACCET Polytechnic.

He called on the state government to remember to accord every Nigerian child access to education in tune with the policy ideals of the United Nations, adding that quality should not be compromised.
By Emma Una/ Calabar