Graceland Polytechnic Report: Educationist urges students to seek mentorship to avoid fake admissions
An education consultant, Mr. Ilesanmi Damilola Samuel, has advised prospective students seeking admission into higher institutions to seek proper guidance and mentorship in order to avoid falling victim to fake or unaccredited admissions.
Speaking on The Informant247 TV’s Fourth Estate show on Wednesday, Ilesanmi described the situation surrounding Graceland Polytechnic Offa as “perturbing and disheartening,” saying it reflects deeper problems within Nigeria’s education system.
According to him, “the current situation is bad because there is no accountability. Institutions do not want to take responsibility for their actions, and that is why cases like this keep happening,” adding that the system requires a comprehensive overhaul.
He explained that many admission seekers lack adequate information, noting that mentorship is critical in helping students make informed decisions.
“If you are seeking admission into a university or any higher institution, most of the time you need a mentor: someone who understands the system and can guide you with the right information,” he said.
Ilesanmi noted that mentors can help prospective students identify accredited and unaccredited courses, stressing that “a mentor will know the courses that are accredited and the ones that are not.”
He also urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure it does not process admissions for unaccredited programmes.
The consultant observed that many students focus only on gaining admission rather than understanding what they stand to gain academically.
“Students don’t really seek what they want to get from the university; what they want is how to get into the university,” he said, noting that some students attend polytechnics simply because they have no other option.
He advised students to personally verify information before applying. “They should go to the school, visit the heads of departments, check the requirements and confirm the courses that are accredited. If they don’t do proper research, they will waste their time, money and resources,” he warned.
The comments followed an investigation by Informant247 which exposed how Graceland Polytechnic, Offa, admitted students into unaccredited programmes, including Mass Communication, and left many of them stranded after graduation.
The investigation revealed that some students were assured by the institution’s management that they would gain direct entry into universities or study abroad after completing their programmes, only to later discover that their certificates could not be used for further education, forcing some to withdraw or seek admission elsewhere.
