By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – STUDENTS and supposed graduates of the Department of Paramedic Technology of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) yesterday protested alleged non-accreditation of their Higher National Diploma (HND) programme.

The aggrieved students who carried placards with various inscriptions at the office of their legal adviser Midlex Law Firm, in Benin City, called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and resolve the issue, which they say has left their academic and professional futures uncertain.

The protest was led by Okorie Mercy, Favour Owhe Iprezie, and Adroje Wasiu Adebabayo.

Speaking, Iprezie expressed frustration over the situation, stating that despite spending five years studying and completing clinical training, graduates were unable to obtain professional licensing or participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme because the programme is allegedly not accredited.

“I am a paramedic that recently graduated from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Department of Paramedic Technology. I’m here today to cry out to the UBTH management to accredit the department,” she said.

Iprezie explained that the lack of accreditation has prevented graduates from entering the labour market. According to her, without an NYSC discharge certificate, many of them cannot apply for jobs despite completing their studies and practical training.

“Our parents trained us for five years with the hope that we would graduate and start working. But now we cannot even apply for jobs because we cannot go for NYSC. It feels like our five years of study have been wasted,” she added.

Meanwhile, the legal representatives of the students, Midlex Law Firm and its Senior Partner, Enyawuile Abednego has threatened legal action against UBTH over the issue describing the situation as unjust and unacceptable.

He argued that allowing students to spend five years in a programme that is allegedly not accredited amounts to a disservice to their future.

“It is painful that students have invested five years of their lives in a programme that is not certified and they cannot even be mobilized for the NYSC programme,” Abednego said.

The lawyer revealed that the firm has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of UBTH to initiate steps toward securing retroactive accreditation for the HND programme.

He also demanded compensation of N100 million for each affected student for what he described as the injustice and loss of valuable years.

“If within seven days they do not establish a template to get retroactive accreditation of the course, we will go to every legal extent within our powers to ensure that this injustice is addressed,” he stated.

A top staff of the UBTH said though the institution runs such a programme, the protesting students were not known and the instruction’s Public Relations Officer, Osaretin Iyen simply said “no comment on that.”