Provost of the Benue State College of Health Technology, Agasha, Dr Daniel Zar, has appealed for enhanced funding to enable the college to address the challenges it faces.
Speaking on Monday in his office during a visit by the Benue State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Margaret Adamu, the Provost assured that with increased funding, the college would achieve maximum development.
Dr Zar expressed concern that without urgent intervention, critical areas such as programme accreditations could suffer, potentially jeopardising students’ graduation prospects.
The Provost revealed that despite having “meagre internally generated revenue,” the institution has made notable progress over the past four years, including the introduction of new academic programmes, expansion of ICT facilities, and securing accreditations from key regulatory bodies such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria.
He stated that the college has also gained recognition as a monotechnic by the National Board for Technical Education and is now listed on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board portal.
Zar explained that these achievements are being strained by severe infrastructure deficits, manpower shortages, and inadequate funding, adding that “funding remains the greatest obstacle between the Agasha of our dreams and us.”
He appealed to the state government to facilitate the release of funds to support ongoing development and accreditation processes.
Further, the Provost highlighted that accreditation remains the institution’s most immediate priority, emphasising its role as the foundation of academic credibility and students’ future.
He stressed that “as a tertiary institution, our first priority is accreditation of programmes. If we admit students and they don’t graduate at the end of it, then we are running to doom.
