Graceland Polytechnic admits graduates affected by non-accredited courses, blames problem on past mgt

Graceland Polytechnic, Offa has acknowledged that some of its graduates were affected by the non-accreditation of academic programmes, attributing the situation to lapses under a previous management.

The admission is contained in a rejoinder issued by the institution’s management in response to an earlier investigative report detailing how students were admitted into programmes later found to be unaccredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

While insisting that the Polytechnic is a duly licensed private institution, the management confirmed that key programmes, including Mass Communication and Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), only received NBTE accreditation in January 2025 — years after affected students had already been admitted and graduated.

According to the school, the accreditation “does not cover students who graduated before the effective date,” an acknowledgment that aligns with complaints by graduates who have been unable to secure admission into Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes or gain Direct Entry into universities.

The management, however, distanced itself from responsibility for the admissions, stating that the issue arose during a “transition period” before the emergence of the current leadership.

“Any regulatory gaps referenced relate to a period prior to the current administration,” the statement said, adding that a new Governing Council and Management Team have since assumed office and commenced reforms to align the institution with NBTE standards.

Despite rejecting claims that students were “abandoned,” the Polytechnic did not clearly outline any concrete remedial pathway — such as conversion programmes, revalidation options, or institutional support — for graduates whose certificates remain unusable for academic progression.

Instead, the institution stated that it has been providing “guidance to affected graduates within the framework of NBTE regulations,” without specifying how such guidance addresses the core issue of invalid academic credentials.

The management also emphasized that all programmes are now “fully accredited” and assured parents and prospective students that Graceland Polytechnic currently operates in compliance with NBTE guidelines.

However, the institution’s rejoinder did not dispute the central fact that students were admitted into programmes that lacked accreditation at the time, nor did it explain why admissions continued before regulatory approval was secured.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has yet to publicly comment on the matter.