Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The proprietor of Harvarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Oluwatosin Adebayo, has refuted reports on some social media platforms that the school was being operated without registration and aprroval of the Federal Government.
Adebayo, who stated this during a press conference at the school premises in Abeokuta, said that contrary to the report which he described as “fake news”, the school has approval of the FG and is duly registered by relevant authorities.
He explained that the institution remained approved by the Federal Government through the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), saying that admission to the school is through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“If anybody goes to the JAMB office, you can verify, check their portal . We can’t come to Abeokuta and be doing something illegal.
“It is quite unfortunate that some people derive pleasure in tarnishing other people’s images, if anything is not clear to you, I believe, you should have come down to the school and ask questions, rather than going on social media and result to blackmailing or passing false information.
“Go to the Federal Ministry of Education and Office of the minister in Abuja, the school is well known and recognised.
“NBTE regularly comes here for accreditation. They were here in October for accreditation, we are a registered institution by the government,” he said.
On the issue of affiliation, the president noted that the institution was once an affiliate with Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye.
“We were running OOU programmes outrightly but not anymore. We have left OOU, Ago Iwoye and we have stood firm on our own.
“We offer OND and HND programmes, but we don’t have the right to issue BSc on our own . Presently, we have an affiliation with Abia State University, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding which we even posted online. We graduate students every year and they are mobilized for NYSC.
“What I think is causing this issue is we send students away from here if they misbehave or fail to meet required standard. These are the students spreading false information on social media,” he said.
Adebayo, however, urged Nigerians to desist from fake news and spreading of unnecessary rumours.