The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has warned tertiary institutions against presenting borrowed staff, equipment and facilities during accreditation exercises.
Dr Alausa made the declaration as the Federal Government began moves to overhaul the accreditation system for universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions in the country.
The Minister stated that institutions should no longer be allowed to create a temporary impression of their capacity merely to satisfy an accreditation team.
“An institution should not be able to prepare a temporary picture of itself simply for the purpose of an accreditation visit. Sadly, this is what persists in the majority of instances,” Alausa said.
He stressed the need to address situations where academic and non-academic personnel are temporarily moved or presented for accreditation and later returned to other institutions.
“We must similarly address the temporary movement, borrowing or presentation of equipment, laboratory facilities, workshop resources, library materials and other infrastructure solely for accreditation purposes,” he added.
Alausa called for critical equipment presented during accreditation to be digitally identified and linked to a specific institution and physical location. Where appropriate, such equipment should carry a unique digital record showing its location, status and other relevant information.
On staffing, the Minister advocated a comprehensive digital identity management and staff verification framework. This system would enable regulators to confirm the identity, presence and institutional affiliation of personnel presented by tertiary institutions.