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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The management of Iseyin College of Science and Health Technology has blamed rival institutions and some former staff members for the recent protest by students over concerns about course accreditation and certificate authenticity.
Proprietor of the college, Mr Sunday Owoseni, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that the unrest was orchestrated by individuals threatened by the institution’s recognition by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He noted that the college, alongside the Oyo State College of Health Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan, remains among the few institutions in the state with NBTE approval, a development he said had unsettled operators of unapproved private colleges.
Owoseni claimed that some dismissed staff members, who he said were disengaged for failing to meet standards of discipline and accountability, had teamed up with certain private institutions to incite students against the college’s leadership.
Describing the protest as avoidable, he maintained that students’ concerns about the validity of their certificates could have been resolved through engagement with the school management rather than a public demonstration.
He explained that while the college already runs accredited programmes, efforts are ongoing to secure approval for additional courses, adding that students are consistently briefed on accreditation processes and academic developments.
The proprietor further disclosed that the names of those allegedly involved in instigating the protest had been identified and reported to security agencies for investigation.
Owoseni expressed gratitude to key stakeholders, including the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Hon Rasaq Fadiran, and the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri III, as well as security agencies, for their timely intervention which helped restore calm.
He reaffirmed that the institution’s primary objective remains the advancement of education in Iseyin, stressing that it is not driven by profit but by a commitment to academic excellence and community development.
