Section 18: Approval of courses

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Board may approve for the purpose of section 10 of this Act-
(a) a course of training which is intended for persons seeking to become members of the profession under this Act and which the Board considers is designed to confer on persons completing the course of training sufficient knowledge and skill for the practice of the profession; or
(b) an institution, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, which the Board considers is properly organised and equipped for conducting the whole or any part of the course of training approved by the Board under this section; or
(c)
a qualification which, as a result of examinations taken in conjunction with the course of training approved by the Board under this section, is granted to candidates reaching a standard at the examination indicating, in the opinion of the Board, that they have sufficient knowledge and skill to practise the profession to which the qualification relates.
(2)
The Board shall, from time to time, publish in the Gazette a list of qualifications relating to the profession approved by it for the purpose of subsection (1) of this section.
(3)
The Board may, if it thinks fit, withdraw an approval given under this section in respect of a course, qualification or institution, but before withdrawing the approval the Board shall-
(a) give notice that it proposes to do so to persons in Nigeria appearing to the Board to be persons by whom the course is conducted or the qualification is granted or the institution is controlled, as the case may be;
(b) afford each person an opportunity of making representation to the Board with regard to the proposal; and
(c) take into consideration any representation made as respects the proposal in pursuance of paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(4) As respects a period during which the approval of the Board under this section for a course, institution or qualification is withdrawn, the course or qualification shall not be treated as approved under this section, but the withdrawal of an approval shall not prejudice the registration or eligibility for registration of a person who by virtue of the approval was registered immediately before the approval was withdrawn.
(5) The giving or withdrawal of an approval under this section shall have effect from such date, after the execution of the instrument signifying the giving or withdrawal of the approval, as the Board may specify in that instrument, and the Board shall-
(a)
as soon as may be, publish a copy of the instrument in the Gazette; and
(b) not later than seven days before its publication as aforesaid, send a copy of the instrument to the Minister.