Allegation Hits JPTS Over Accreditations, Recognition

In the wake of the Nigerian government’s recent suspension of degree accreditation from certain neighboring countries, Joint Professional Training Support International (JPTS) has come under scrutiny. Allegations have surfaced, spearheaded by a student group led by Bakawei Mamamu, suggesting potential misrepresentation by JPTS in its partnership with a South American University. These claims were presented at a press conference in Warri, Delta State, on January 4th, 2024.

The students allege that many Nigerians may have been misled, resulting in both financial loss and wasted time. They claim that degrees obtained through JPTS’s programs, in collaboration with the South American University, face recognition challenges, affecting graduates’ employment and further education prospects.

“Most of my homies got admitted to this school (JPTS), most of them went for it because of the low competition in getting admission (everybody who writes their entrance examination passes, even with a low score).

“I don’t know how to tell them that they are going to waste three years of their life trying to get an unrecognized BSc certificate.

“The school admission process is enough to know that it is a scam.

There isn’t any tertiary institution that gives admission without the candidates writing jamb but this school only needs you to write their entrance examination for you to be admitted. How are they going to do their NYSC without Jamb? Their bachelor’s degree programme runs for only 3 session also.

Students also said; “They also don’t have a permanent campus in Nigeria like other universities. Jpts not owning a space of their own and having up to 3 different branch in a particular state speaks volume of how a waste of time the school is”.

During the 2023 convocation ceremony in Warri, students are said to have brought their concerns directly to the attention of JPTS President, Professor Christopher Imumolen. These concerns centered on the international accreditation status of their programs. Student accounts indicate that Professor Imumolen acknowledged these issues, mentioning that steps were being taken to address them. However, since that meeting, the students claim they have not received any updates from Professor Imumolen regarding the progress of these efforts.

Repeated attempts to contact him for further clarification have reportedly been unsuccessful. On the few occasions when communication was established, the students allege that Professor Imumolen repeated the same explanations, which they find increasingly unsatisfactory and concerning.

Furthermore, JPTS’s association with Global Wealth University in Togo was mentioned as an alternative certification path. However, students claim that these certificates also suffer from recognition issues.

An anonymous student highlighted concerns about JPTS’s admission process and its implications for graduates’ future, particularly regarding national service eligibility and academic recognition.

Professor Imumolen previously stated that JPTS, registered in Nigeria and New York and recognized by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, has transitioned from a training institute to a university – Global Wealth University in Togo. He assured that this institution enables students to transfer credits and obtain various degrees, including PhDs.

However, students have expressed concerns regarding the global recognition of their credentials obtained through JPTS programs. Many have encountered challenges when attempting to have their qualifications evaluated by international educational assessment bodies, such as WES (World Educational Services) and ICES (International Credential Evaluation Service).

Additionally, there are reports of difficulties in accessing transcripts and certificates, even after fulfilling payment obligations. These issues are compounded by repeated payment requests, attributed to administrative shortcomings at JPTS. As these problems persist, JPTS continues to enroll new students, raising concerns that these individuals might face similar obstacles as those currently reported by existing students.

The student group urges the Nigerian Federal Government to investigate these allegations against Professor Imumolen and JPTS. They express concern over the potential exploitation of Nigerian students seeking educational advancement.

In response, JPTS has not yet publicly commented on these allegations. As this situation develops, the call for a thorough investigation grows louder among affected students and concerned observers.