Minister warns tertiary institutions against borrowing staff, equipment for accreditation

The Federal Government is implementing reforms to improve the accreditation system for tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa cautioning against institutions presenting borrowed staff, equipment and facilities during accreditation. Alausa stated that the government seeks to transform accreditation into a continuous, digital, and data-driven quality assurance system capable of verifying institutions' actual capacity.

The minister emphasized that accreditation should provide an accurate representation of an institution's capacity to deliver quality education, rather than allowing institutions to create temporary impressions during accreditation visits. Alausa proposed the use of technology to strengthen the verification of infrastructure, equipment, and personnel, including geospatial mapping, geotagging, and digital identification technologies.

Staffing verification was also highlighted as a critical aspect, with a comprehensive digital identity management system proposed to establish personnel's identity, presence, and institutional affiliation. The reforms aim to move accreditation from a periodic exercise to a continuous quality assurance process, with institutions maintaining prescribed standards throughout the year.

The initiative involves collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission and a newly formed committee aiming to create a digital platform serving as a "single source of truth" for verified institutional data.