Radiography graduates of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri have called for urgent intervention over what they describe as a prolonged accreditation failure that has left them unable to practice their profession.
In a message sent to Gistreel, the affected graduates, members of the pioneer set, revealed that their department has allegedly lacked accreditation from the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria for over six years.
This, they explained, has prevented them from sitting for mandatory professional examinations required for licensing.
According to the students, radiography training requires two key certifications, approval from the National Universities Commission and accreditation from the RRBN. While the program may have received NUC recognition, they claim the absence of RRBN accreditation has rendered their degrees professionally incomplete.
The graduates disclosed that they were unable to sit for their expected professional examinations at both 300 and 500 levels due to the accreditation issue.
Despite completing their studies and graduating months ago, they say there has been no clear communication or resolution from the institution.
They further alleged that students paid accreditation-related fees during their studies, with records available to support these claims. However, they expressed frustration that there has been no visible progress or accountability regarding the process.
The situation has reportedly left many graduates stranded, unable to secure employment or practice legally as radiographers, despite years of academic investment. They also raised concerns that new students are still being admitted into the program while existing graduates remain unlicensed.
The group is now urging relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene, warning that continued inaction could worsen the situation for future students.
They appealed for increased public awareness, stressing that timely action is needed to address the issue and provide clarity for affected graduates.
One of the graduates said in part …
“I am a student of Radiography FUTO and in my profession as a radiographer. I am expected to write two professional exams. The first professional exam should be in 300 level and the last one which should be the last one was to be in 500level.
However, in 300 Level and 4 level I didn’t write the professional exams and the reason why we didn’t write the professional exams was because our department is not accredited by RRBN, which is a board of Radiographers, radiographers board of Nigeria. In radiography we do have two accreditation, the first one is the NUC, and the second one is the RRBN accreditation.
For me to practice (and I finished 6 months ago) and since after we graduated there has been no update about accreditation. We are stranded and missing out on opportunities and we can’t practice without license.
We even paid for the accreditation.
They keep admitting more students when the ones they have graduated cannot work…”
A message tendered by the graduates read in part…
“URGENT: 6-Year Accreditation Delay Affecting Radiography Students in FUTO
Good Evening,
I respectfully write to bring to your attention a pressing issue affecting Radiography graduates of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), particularly the pioneer set, of which I am a part.
We duly paid accreditation-related fees, and there are records to confirm this. My colleagues are also available to verify these claims, yet there has been no visible progress or accountability.
Sir I have proofs that showed that we paid for accreditation.
My colleagues also can bear witness to this.
This situation has placed us in a very difficult position, especially in the current economic climate. After investing years of time, effort, and financial resources, we are left in uncertainty with no clear path forward.
For Six whole years the department has failed to get RRBN ACCREDITATION.
In our profession, students are required to sit for professional examinations at 300 level and final qualifying exams at 500 level before they can be licensed. Sadly, despite graduating last year, we have received no clear update regarding accreditation or the scheduling of these exams.
We were not informed at the point of admission that the program lacked accreditation. This only became known during our studies, leaving us stranded after investing five years in training.
And if not handled now it will escalate to more years. We’re stranded. Please help us.
A colleague of mine almost committed suicide because of the frustration from the department and school at large.
Nobody is talking.
We’re drowning silently…”
