By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Kebbi State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega, has secured a major academic breakthrough with the accreditation of seven professional programmes by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The development marks a significant milestone for the institution, which was established in the 1970s and has for decades played a key role in producing health personnel for Kebbi State.
The Provost of the college, Alhaji Hussaini Aliyu, disclosed the development on Wednesday when the Kebbi State Media Team, led by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, visited the institution to assess developments under the administration of Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu.
According to the Provost, the accreditation was achieved following sustained government support, particularly the provision of funds required to address the conditions and requirements set by the regulatory body.
He said the newly accredited programmes include Community Health, Health Education and Promotion, Health Information Management, Public Health, Environmental Health Technology and Medical Science Laboratory Technology, among other health-related programmes.
Aliyu said the accreditation had significantly expanded opportunities available to students while also strengthening the institution’s standing within Nigeria’s technical and health education system.
Beyond the academic breakthrough, the Provost listed several infrastructure and welfare projects undertaken at the college.
These, he said, include the renovation of male and female students’ hostels, construction of a new entrance gate and perimeter fencing, provision of six functional boreholes, three of which are solar-powered, renovation of the ICT Centre and the provision of a new 36-seater bus.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Bunza, described the institution as one of the major sources of health manpower for Kebbi State.
He noted that graduates of the college are serving across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities within the state.
Bunza said that despite the college’s long history dating back to the 1970s, its programmes had not previously obtained NBTE accreditation until the present administration.
He said the accreditation had also changed the institution’s admission process, with the college now admitting students through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“All admissions now from this year must be from JAMB,” he said, describing the development as a major milestone for both the institution and prospective students.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Accreditation Committee of the Governing Council, Alhaji Aliyu Ladan, said the committee recorded what he described as a “100 per cent success” in the accreditation exercise.
Ladan said Governor Nasir Idris had directed the institution to secure nationally recognised foundational programmes, leading to the successful accreditation and subsequent listing of the college on the JAMB e-Facility for National Diploma programmes.
He added that the institution had commenced admissions under the new arrangement.
Earlier, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, said the visit was designed to enable members of the Governor’s media team to see firsthand the developments recorded at the college under the Kauran Gwandu administration.
The Commissioner commended the management and Governing Council for their efforts in repositioning the institution and assured them that the state media team would continue to communicate the achievements and programmes of the administration to the public.
The accreditation is expected to further strengthen the college’s role in training qualified health professionals for Kebbi State and beyond.
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