After graduating with a Distinction (CGPA 3.70) from Mass Communication at Graceland Polytechnic Offa in 2022, Ibrahim (not his real name) believed, just like thousands of students every year, that the road to a Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Direct Entry (DE) admission into the university would be a normal step ahead.
He pictured himself moving to a university classroom, swapping ND courses outlines for 300-level lecture notes, introducing himself as a university student. That was the dream he held on to while struggling through project deadlines, cramped hostel rooms, and a part-time job that barely fed him.
“I finished with Distinction, a 3.70,” he began, his voice tightening as though the weight of the experience was still pressed on his chest. “I hoped that crossing to the university would be easy considering my result, but that was nothing more than a dream that’d never come to fruition.”
The first sign came when he tried to begin his Direct Entry process, only to be told at the JAMB office in Ilorin that he had never been offered admission in the first place. Not by JAMB. Not on CAPS. Not anywhere in the official system.
Following the instruction from his school management, Ibrahim had visited the JAMB office to regularize his admission and begin the process of securing admission into the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
“When one of the officials checked my admission status on JAMB CAPS, she told me that I was never offered admission and encouraged me to go back to my school for clarification… that the school must first upload my result on CAPS to validate my admission,” he recalled.
The shock left him unsettled. Still trying to make sense of the discovery, he reached out to his department.
“I quickly contacted my HOD, Mr Areh Samuel, and one of my lecturers who works in the ICT unit, Mr. Abayomi, to inform them about the development, but none of them was able to offer a solution,” he said. “I got really terrified and frustrated that I gave up on trying to pursue admission any further.”
From that moment on, Ibrahim’s story became one of frustration, confusion, and helplessness; one shared by countless other students trying to transition into higher institutions.
More students lament inability to pursue higher education, recount experience
Ibrahim’s case is not isolated. Multiple students across departments told The Informant247 that similar inconsistencies have crippled their plans to progress academically.
Another student from the Mass Communication department, Stephen (Not his real name), expressed deep frustration over the school management’s handling of the issue.
“I am afraid to further my studies because the issue in the school still remains unresolved. I am even tired of them. Are they trying to ruin our future with their own selfishness? They are the one delaying me, I would have moved further”.
Also, expressing his plight, Kenny from the same department revealed that he decided to focus more on his business since the accreditation issue remains unresolved.
“The illegitimacy of our results is the reason I never proceeded yet. I have decided to focus on my business. I no longer bother myself with it again, but I know my head will judge them given all the time, resources wasted.”
Not only Mass Communication
Students in the Science and Laboratory Technology department who experienced a similar situation explained that they had already advanced in his academic program before the department eventually secured accreditation.
I have already further in my program before they did the accreditation of our department, so I don’t need the school certificate or result,” said Kay, who doesn’t give his full name.
Another student from the same department, Delight, reinforced the concerns, saying “Graceland ruined so many lives. Wasted our time, resources, funds, and efforts. It’s advisable to just start afresh”.
Graceland Polytechnic, built on deceit!
Established in 2013, Graceland Polytechnic Offa was initially conceived by its late founder, Princess (Dr.) Ayodele Olufemi Oyeleke, with the intent to further widen the landscape of tertiary education in Nigeria and offer hope to admission seekers.
The institution began full operation in 2019 after gaining approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The approval followed the Board’s assessment of the institution’s facilities, granting it access to run as a licensed Polytechnic and offer Polytechnic programmes.
However, what appeared to be a light at the end of the tunnel later turned out to be an everlasting nightmare for the students.
A school that promised to help its students secure a brighter future and build a solid academic foundation ended up being a symbol of lies and deceit.
Between late 2020 and early 2021, prospective students seeking admission into Graceland Polytechnic Offa (GPO) were assured that the courses were “fully accredited.”
The admission for students studying Mass Communication, Science and Laboratory Technology (SLT), Accountancy, Library and Information Science, Computer Science, were eventually found to be unaccredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
In early 2022, during the ND2 academic session, the truth began to unravel. Shortly after students returned from their compulsory SIWES program, concerns emerged about the status of the department. Multiple students discovered that the course had never been accredited, contradicting repeated assurances issued by various members of the school’s management.
Attempts by concerned students to seek clarification were met with vague explanations and further promises that accreditation would be secured “in no distant time.” But months passed with no action, prompting growing frustration among the affected students.
As of 2021-2022, students were paying N60,000 to N70,000 per session. “Purchase of handouts is highly mandatory, and it forms part of the students’ continuous assessment (CA),” said a student who doesn’t want to be named.
“Apply for a fresh JAMB”, school officials tell graduate students in leaked conversation
In an audio conversation exclusively obtained by The Informant247, the former HOD of Mass Communication department, Mr. Mumeen Ameed could be heard talking to a student about the state of the school, advising her to “use the certificate from polytechnic to gather money and apply for another institution with accredited courses”.
Leaked Conversation Between HOD and Student
“The status of the school is really hurting my feelings. The HOD of SLT has run away because he did not know what he would face. I’m not like him. I can not run away.
The accreditation of that department failed. My advice for you now is to use that certificate to get a job, gather some money, and apply for another JAMB to process admission into the university so you can start afresh from 100 level.
“I know that the knowledge you have gained from us will assist you more in performing excellently as you start. If you decide to continue here (Graceland Polytechnic), they’ll just be deceiving you. If you call them now, they’ll deceive you to go for DPT or whatever. NO way!
“If that school still exists, those that will enjoy it are the ones who came after the course was accredited. They tried hiding the truth from me, but I later found out. Explain the situation to your parents and your colleagues who will understand you. All I know is that you will make money with the knowledge and certificates we have given to you.
“I told my brother in Lagos whose daughter is also a victim that the school was good, but now I don’t know how to face him. Tell your friends that I warn them to use that certificate to work and gather money. If I had known all of you would suffer after accreditation, I would have asked you to go home. Just take heart.
“You can only use that certificate to work, or you add it to your CV that you have ND. But if you want to go for HND, that certificate will not move you. I won’t advise you to restart ND. Don’t disturb yourself with this polytechnic again because they will keep collecting money from you.”
‘Accreditation only done this year’ – School management admitted
When The Informant247 contacted the new Registrar of the school, Mr Oladokun Obolanle, for comment, he noted that accreditation of courses, including Mass Communication, was only done in early 2025.
He further added that the accreditation does not cover students who graduated before the effective date.
“I think we did some accreditation this January for all the courses offered. But, the accreditation does not cover the set of students who graduated before the accreditation date, which is 2025.
“For mass communication and SLT in particular, the accreditation was done this January (2025) and doesn’t cover the earlier graduates.”
When questioned about what would be the fate of affected students, he responded, “Yes, I am aware of the situation that students have not been able to proceed for HND or Direct Entry, but I inherited the problem from the previous Management.”
Efforts to reach the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to get an official reaction to the development proved abortive.
Calls across to the Board’s official lines did not go through as of the time of this report.
This report was published with support from Civic Media Lab.
