IKORODU (LAGOS STATE) – A lecturer, Mr Frank Ogundano, on Tuesday urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to accelerate its accreditation processes in order to develop tourism [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]education in polytechnics.
Ogundano, who is the Head of Department, Leisure and Tourism Management, Lagos State Polytechnic, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said the intermittent disruption of academic programmes due to non-accreditation and inadequate enlightenment of prospective students had negatively affected the trend of enrolment and graduation in tourism-related courses.
Ogundano said: “The course is a growing course but so far, we have graduated three sets in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and there is no time we graduated less than 25 students.
“We could not graduate students in 2013 because of accreditation issues with the NBTE; twice, they have prevented us from getting accreditation.
“If the accreditation comes on board, there is no year we cannot admit up to 60 students.
“So, if we have that support from the academic monitors, I believe we shall make a headway in tourism as Lagos State is the most reliable tourism destination in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Ogundana said the interruption in accreditation of tourism courses at the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) level was responsible for the delay in the school’s commencement of its Higher National Diploma (HND) programme.
“The accreditation is a prerequisite to the proliferation of the HND programmes.
“So, for now, we have a proviso that our students who possess satisfactory grades in tourism at the OND level can proceed to study for HND in Hospitality Management.
“Otherwise, they will not have the opportunity to advance in their studies,’’ he said.
The don noted that the department was well equipped to cater for the students and ensure they acquired relevant the skills required to excel in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Ogundano advised the Lagos State Government to provide adequate funds for the development of the course to forestall accreditation-related challenges.
NAN recalls that the polytechnic’s department of Leisure and Hospitality was established six years ago. (NAN)