UNIBEN APPROVES NABTEB CERTIFICATES FOR ADMISSION
Efforts by the Registrar, Chief Executive of NABTEB, Prof. David Awanbor, to facilitate the admission of the holders of NABTEB certificates into Nigerian Universities got a boost at the weekend with the university of Benin clearing the last hurdle for candidates seeking admission into its faculty of Social Sciences.
This positive development came as a result of the decision of the institution’s senate to approve and accord NABTEB certificates the same status as WASC, SSCE and NECO.
It would be recalled that though other faculties admitted holders of NABTEB certificates to pursue relevant courses, the Social Sciences refused to admit the numerous qualified candidates that thronged its various departments with the hope of pursuing degree courses.
The Senate, in a memo dated April 8, 2004, and addressed to the Dean of Social Sciences approved the use of NABTEB certificates for nine major undergraduates’ courses and diploma programmes.
Part of the memo signed by the Deputy Registrar (Senate matters) read “The Senate at its meeting held on Wednesday, 7th April, 2004, considered and approved the recommendation of Faculty Board of Studies that the NABTEB certificates be accorded the same status as WASC, SSCE and NECO”.
LAUTECH ACCEPTS NABTEB CERTIFICATES
The Senate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has approved the acceptance of certificates awarded by the National Business And Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) for admission to all relevant courses offered by the institution.
The approval was contained in a letter Ref. No. R/AA/AD/21, dated February 2, 2009, signed by Mr. O.O. Ojo, the Registrar of LAUTECH and addressed to the Registrar/Chief Executive of NABTEB.
Part of the four paragraph letter read, “ I am happy to inform you that holders of NABTEB Certificates were considered for admission during the just concluded 2008/2009 Admission Exercise”.
With this development, holders of the National Technical Certificate (NTC), National Business Certificate (NBC) and other relevant certificates awarded by NABTEB can now smile their way into LAUTECH for academic pursuit.
It would be recalled that following the approval of NABTEB Certificates for admission to tertiary institutions by the National Council on Education (NCE) and the Federal Government’s directive on the matter, NABTEB certificates became one of the requisite qualifications for admission to the nation’s Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in 2001.
Consequently, NABTEB certificates became part of the entry qualifications in the Universities Matriculation Examination (UME) and the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (PCE) brochures.
As a follow-up measure, the National Universities Commission (NUC) was mandated to ensure enforcement and strict compliance by tertiary institutions while NABTEB was directed to report cases of non-compliance to the NUC for appropriate sanction.
Reacting to the development, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NABTEB Prof. David Awanbor lauded authorities of LAUTECH for identifying with other leading universities in the acceptance of NABTEB certificates for the pursuit of relevant courses.
He noted that the acceptance of NABTEB certificates by notable universities such as the University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Nigeria (UNN) and a host of other Universities has positively affected the enrolment for Technical and Vocational Education in the country.
Prof. Awanbor urged the two universities (names withheld) whose senates were yet to consider NABTEB Certificates to expedite action on the matter as part of their contribution to the quest for sustainable technological and national development.
NABTEB COMMENDS FEDERAL POLY, EDE
Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, in Osun State, have been commended for the outstanding feat achieved by students of the institution at a national competition organized for students from the nation’s universities and polytechnics by Unilever Plc.
The Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Prof David Awanbor gave the commendation while reacting to the brilliant performance of two outgoing HND students who took first and third positions respectively to out-dazzle their counterparts from various Universities and Polytechnics across the nation.
Prof. Awanbor also acknowledged the remarkable performance of another student of the institution at a National Youth Debate organized by the Federal Ministry of Education.
He contended that the brilliant performance of the Polytechnic students coupled with the recent newspaper reports that HND graduates perform better at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examinations have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) students at the Technical Colleges and Polytechnics are not in anyway inferior to their counterparts in the secondary schools and universities.
The former Executive Secretary of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) noted that HND and Degree holders are partners in progress, playing complementary roles in the quest for sustainable technological and national development.
Awanbor, a former Dean of the Faculty of Education, UNIBEN, also urged other Polytechnics, to emulate the worthy example set by the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, by competing favourably with their counterparts in universities in the bid to pull down the retrogressive wall of discrimination against holders of HND and pave the way for sustainable national development.
It would be recalled that an HND Marketing graduate of the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Miss Gbemisola Saliat Ajani, came first at a National Competition organized by Unilever PLC and was offered automatic employment by Bank PHB Plc and Unilever Plc simultaneously.
Similarly, Miss Tayo Adejumo of the same institution clinched the third position to the amazement of her counterparts from other tertiary institutions while another student of the Polytechnic, Miss Elizabeth Olanrewaju stole the show at a National Youth Debate recently organized by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Noted for its unrivalled tone in discipline and high moral standard, the Federal Polytechnic Ede, was once lauded by a former Education Minister, for its exceptional ability to effectively combine discipline and morality with the quest for academic excellence.
As part of measures aimed at enhancing the admission of holders of NABTEB Certificates to tertiary institutions in line with the Federal Government’s directive, the Registrar/Chief Executive of the board, Prof. David Awanbor has begun enlightenment tour of selected Universities across the country. The main purpose of the tour is to convince university authorities about the acceptability of NABTEB Certificates for admission into relevant courses offered in their institutions.
The first leg of the enlightenment tour took the NABTEB boss and his management team to universities in the South Western geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Among the universities visited by Prof Awanbor and his team were Nigeria’s premier University (the University of Ibadan), the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly, University of Ife), the University of Lagos, the Lagos State University and the University of Benin. It would be recalled that the National Council on Education (NCE) has directed the National universities Commission (NUC) to sanction any university that discriminate against the National Technical Certificate (NTC) and the National Business Certificate (NBC) awarded by NABTEB, for admission purposes. Feelers from Universities across the nation indicate that universities that were hitherto reluctant have started admitting holders of NABTEB certificate for the pursuit of relevant courses.
The second leg of the enlightenment tour is expected to take Prof. Awanbor and his management team to Universities in the remaining five geo-political zones of the nation.
NUC TO VARSITIES: YOU MUST ACCEPT NABTEB CERTIFICATES
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s endorsement of Certificates awarded by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) for admission to Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
The Commission, in a letter addressed to Vice Chancellors of all universities in Nigeria expressed the Minister of Education’s disgust at the continued rejection of NABTEB qualifications for admission by some recalcitrant universities.
The letter, signed by the NUC Director, Academic Planning and Research. Prof. I.I. Uvah, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, recalled that the NUC had earlier sent to the universities a circular letter which conveyed a special announcement by the Minister of Education, affirming the government’s recognition of the NABTEB certificates for admission to Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
“Consequently, I have been directed to reiterate Government’s recognition of NABTEB Ordinary Level qualifications as valid tender for admission to tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” the letter added.
Apparently incensed by the uncompromising stance of some universities, the letter enjoined Vice Chancellors to confirm their compliance with the directive in writing.
The NUC, in a separate letter, addressed to the Registrar/chief Executive of NABTEB said the Commission had intervened promptly in the rejection of NABTEB certificates by some universities and was looking forward to receiving responses confirming due compliance by the universities.
VARSITIES CAN’T REJECT NABTEB CERTIFICATES
With the approval of the Federal Government directives issued to tertiary institutions of learning by the relevant authorities, no university in the country has the right to reject or discriminate against certificates issued by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), the Vice chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Abisogu Olubode Leigh, has said.
Prof Abisogu Leigh, who made the assertion while receiving the Registrar/Chief Executive of NABTEB, Prof David Awanbor, in his office contended that there is no basis for discrimination against any certificate duly approved by the Federal Government and the relevant authorities for admission purpose.
Noting that the role of tertiary institutions is to admit/teach students and not to re-accredit certificates awarded by government approved examination bodies, Prof Leigh said it was rather unfortunate that any university could discriminate against NABTEB certificates.
The Vice-Chancellor, who explained that he was completely unaware of the ugly development in his university apologized to NABTEB for holders of its certificates who might have been denied admission in the past.
Apparently impressed with the high quality of the Board’s (NABTEB) enriched examination syllabi and the credibility of its certificates, Prof Leigh promised to personally examine the relevant materials presented by the NABTEB boss before presenting it to the Curriculum Committee and the Senate for necessary consideration and acceptance.
He attributed the initial rejection or discrimination or rejection to the phenomenon of resistance often associated with new ideas, adding that the Board would soon get over the problem and attract more candidates than expected.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, advised NABTEB to learn from the challenges facing the three major examination bodies in the country and take precautionary measures to prevent the incursion of desperate candidates, parents and staff whose notorious activities may affect the credibility of its examination.
Once we are sure that there is a legal underpinning to the recognition of your Board’s certificates and the ground norm is established, we won’t hesitate to admit your candidates Prof. Leigh assures the Chief Executive of NABTEB.
Meanwhile, it is heartening to note that the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has commenced the acceptance of NABTEB certificates for admission to relevant programmes/courses offered by the institution.
Suffice it to say that this positive development has put paid to the lingering controversy over the acceptance of NABTEB certificates in the late 90s.
Other News
NABTEB COMMISSIONS REGIONAL OFFICE, LAUNCHES e-WORLD
TWO YEARS OF LAUDABLE SERVICE
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||