The National Association of Polytechnic Students has expressed strong disapproval of the Federal Government’s move to discontinue Pharmaceutical Technology from the list of Higher National Diploma programs in Nigeria.

The students are contesting the agreement between the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the National Board of Technical Education, endorsed by the Federal Government, which limits the training and accreditation of Pharmacy Technicians to only National Diploma level.

This agreement was signed on April 17 at the Federal Ministry of Education in Kaduna, with the Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, and other ministry directors in attendance, resolving a long-standing issue regarding pharmaceutical technologists’ training.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the South West Zone Coordinator of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, Monday Obasanya, condemned this decision, citing concerns about the employability of graduates from this program in the job market following its de-accreditation by relevant authorities.

The association is urging a reconsideration of this decision.
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“The dis-accreditation of the course has not only left thousands of students and graduates in a state of uncertainty but also raised questions about their employability and prospects. We are worried that the graduates of this course, who have invested significant time and resources in their education, may be denied opportunities in the labour market due to the perceived invalidation of their qualifications.

“We fear that this decision will lead to a waste of human resources, as many of these graduates may be forced to abandon their chosen career paths and seek alternative fields, leading to brain drain and loss of expertise in the healthcare sector. This is unacceptable and has far-reaching implications for the country’s development.

“We demand that the Federal Ministry of Education, NBTE, and PCN take immediate action to address the concerns of the affected students and graduates. We call for a reversal of the dis-accreditation decision and validation of the Pharmaceutical Technology course in polytechnics.”

Obasanya appealed to healthcare sector employers to recognize and value the qualifications of graduates from this field, and to offer them suitable job opportunities.

Meanwhile, a student, Omolola Omon, expressed her disappointment and dismay over the development in a conversation with our reporter, highlighting the impact of this decision on her peers and the future of their careers.

She stated, “Segregation has been in existence for a long time, students who want to apply for direct entry are being turned down just because they studied pharmaceutical technology in polytechnic.

“My colleagues are bothered and confused about their fate after graduation. If the medical sector can’t accept them, what is now the essence of going for the programme?”

Sunday Oguntola, a recent Pharmaceutical Technology graduate, expressed his dissatisfaction and frustration with the unjustified dis-accreditation, labeling it as a thoughtless and unjust decision that lacks a solid rationale or credible justification.

“This is not just unfair but inhumane and we perceive the serious attempt of the government to truly take education out of the reach of the common masses. This issue has also brought concern to the current students on campus that have been offered that course and also students who are graduates of this discipline.

“We want to issue a 48-hour ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to call to order his Minister of Education, not by any means to render our certificate useless else, we will take to the streets to speak to them in the only language they understand. We would not allow five years of our journey to be wasted,” Oguntola stated.

When reached for comment, Fatima Abubakar, the spokesperson for the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), initially responded via text message, indicating that she would follow up with our correspondent, but unfortunately, no further response was received by the time this report was filed

“Please bear with me, I want to get the information from the source. I will get back to you,” Abubakar pleaded.