Parents of students in the Department of Radiography at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), have voiced deep concerns over the programme’s non-accreditation by the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN), warning that their children’s future is in jeopardy.

Operating under the banner of Concerned Parents of Radiography Students, the parents, in a letter to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Governing Council, and Senator Cyril Fasuyi representing Ekiti North, decried the prolonged delay in securing accreditation.

They lamented that final-year students risk being barred from sitting for professional examinations, proceeding on internship, or participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). According to them, each final-year student had already paid N95,000 for the first professional examination, yet no arrangements had been made for its conduct.

The parents identified a shortage of qualified lecturers, inadequate infrastructure, reliance on part-time staff, and the appointment of a non-radiographer as Head of Department as reasons for the accreditation setback.

Appealing for urgent intervention, they called on Senator Fasuyi, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr (Oye Federal Constituency), and the Students’ Union Government to step in and ensure the programme’s accreditation is fast-tracked.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the President of the Department of Radiography and Radiation Science, Adeniyi Samuel, said the uncertainty had plunged many of his colleagues into despair about their academic future.

“Many of us are deeply worried about what the future holds. We have spent years studying, and our parents have sacrificed so much, yet we are not sure if we will be allowed to graduate, go for an internship, or even participate in NYSC. It is heartbreaking “, he said.

He added that although there had been engagements with the University management, the pace of progress was slow. “Our greatest fear is losing all we have worked for. We just want this matter resolved quickly so our dreams don’t end in vain,” he lamented.

He appealed to government authorities and regulatory bodies to wade into the matter urgently, saying, “We are begging the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, and all relevant stakeholders to intervene. We cannot afford to watch our future slip away because of accreditation issues,” he pleaded.

Reacting to the parents’ concerns, the Special Adviser on Media to FUOYE VC, Dr. Wole Balogun, assured that the Radiography programme had been duly accredited by the National University Commission, which he described as the constitutionally recognised body for regulating all university courses

According to him, NUC had issued a directive that no professional council not be granted a waiver should hold universities to ransom over accreditation issues, and the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria was not among the professional councils granted such a waiver.

“Our parents should not entertain any fear because the accreditation of Radiography in our University has been duly done and approved by the NUC. We have a letter to that effect. The course has been fully accredited, and NUC is the highest regulatory body for all university programmes.

“Their directive is clear: once they have accredited a programme, no other council without a waiver can stop graduation. Radiography council is not among those with a waiver,” he added.

He assured that Radiography students would graduate at the appropriate time, saying the University “has done the needful” to safeguard their academic future. (The Nation)