The Proprietor of Iseyin College of Science and Health Technology, Sunday Owoseni, has accused rival institutions and dismissed staff of instigating unrest among students following the school’s approval by the National Board for Technical Education.
Owoseni, who spoke in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, alleged that some unapproved private colleges of health and nursing in Oyo State felt threatened by the institution’s accreditation status and were behind attempts to destabilise the school.
He said the college, alongside the Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, remains among the few institutions in the state recognised by the NBTE.
According to him, the development has unsettled operators of unaccredited schools.
“Our approval by the NBTE has become a source of concern to some illegal colleges. They see it as a threat, and that is why they are trying to incite our students,” Owoseni said.
The proprietor further alleged that some former staff members who were disengaged over issues of discipline and accountability had joined forces with rival institutions to fuel discontent among students.
“These individuals could not comply with the standards we uphold, and after leaving, they aligned with some of these colleges to spread misinformation and create unnecessary tension within our school,” he stated.
Owoseni dismissed recent protests by students, who reportedly expressed concerns over the validity of their certificates, describing the action as avoidable.
“There has always been open communication with our students about the accreditation status of our programmes. Some courses are already accredited, while others are at advanced stages of approval. There was no basis for protest,” he said.
He added that the management had consistently encouraged students to engage in professional examinations relevant to their fields while awaiting full accreditation for certain programmes.
Reacting to earlier concerns raised by the Campaign For Better Public Health over the proliferation of unapproved health institutions in the state, Owoseni maintained that his college operates within regulatory standards.
The proprietor also commended local authorities and stakeholders for intervening to restore calm, including the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Rasaq Fadiran, and the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola.
“We appreciate the timely intervention of the local government, traditional rulers, and security agencies in resolving the situation peacefully,” he said.
Owoseni reiterated that the institution’s focus remains on delivering quality education and contributing to the development of the health sector in Oyo State.
