SLT Profession; Setting the Record Straight

Over the years, there has been a lot of misconception and  mis-information about this noble profession some of which are from member of a sister profession who perceived SLT profession as one of their  rivals and thus chooses to be their die hard enemy, others are  from those that are doing it out of  ignorance and lack of knowledge due to the multidisciplinary nature of the profession.

However, this article will help in providing illumination to several aspects of this profession which appear shady and needs greater illumination.

Based on the arguments of some people who will erroneously  say that SLT  is not a professional career, I will like to start from the definition of a profession and we will thereafter set the ball rolling.         Merriam Webster Dictionary defined a Profession as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation”. 

According to the information available on Wikipedia, the term “Professional” is used to describe the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct, enshrining rigorous ethical and moral obligations which are setup and agreed upon by the governing body or Council of the Professional body.

With the above explanation ,  what makes a course or career a professional one includes but not limited to:

√ Intensive and specialized training (in School and during working period)

√ Practical approach in their Academic system

√ Regulatory Body and Professional Association

√ Ethical and Moral obligations guiding members 

√ Establishing Act by the government

Picking them one after the other, I will explain briefly how SLT Profession meet and surpasses all the listed above.

For you to be licensed as a chartered Science Laboratory Professional, you must have  concluded a five (5) years B.sc or B.Tech degree in the university or spend five (5) years cumulative in a polytechnic ( two  years OND, one year Industrial Training and two years for HND). Either in the Polytechnic or University, everyone must have undergone rigorous and intensive training program before they can graduate. It is a specialized program with a robust curriculum that equips them for the task ahead. This I will like to discuss in detail in the subsequent parts of this article.

Talk of practical approach, there is no doubt that everyone who had accessed  SLT training program either in university or polytechnic will agree to the fact that the curriculum contains an in-depth practical skills and techniques. Aside the several hours they will spend in the laboratory and on the field for these practical courses, the six month  SIWES and a year I.T program is another great exposure to  the practical aspect of this profession.

In line with the specialized training  of SLT  graduates, they come out with competency  under different sectors such as clinical sector with options such as Biomedical technique, physiology and pharmacology technique, histology and cytology technique, Microbiology/virology technique etc; Biological sector with options in Biochemistry technique, microbiology technique, Biotechnology technique, biological technique etc; Agricultural/Environmental sector such as Aquaculture technique, Aquaculture and fishery technique, plant science technique, environmental biology technique, environmental science technique, marine science technique, hydrobiology/ fishery technique etc; Physical/ natural sector with options such as Applied Geology technique, Geology and Mining technique, Geology technique etc; Chemical/ Petrochemical sector having options like Industrial chemistry/petroleum technique, applied chemistry technique etc; Engineering Technology sector with options in Physics with production, Physics and Electronics Engineering etc.

These had made  SLT profession to be so viable and a necessity  in every sector of the economy among which are medical, pharmaceutical , engineering , oil and gas, environmental,  agricultural  and in all ministries where laboratory services are found.

The Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) is the regulatory agency established by the act of parliament which was enacted into law in the year 2003. On the professional Association, the same act identified and put into existence the Association of Science Laboratory Technologist of Nigeria (ASLTON). The Institute which has it headquarters in Ibadan and Abuja is charged amongst other roles, the responsibility of advancing the Science Laboratory Technology Profession in the country.

Both NISLT and ASLTON have ethical and moral guidelines in form of code of conducts which must be complied with by all practicing and licensed members. The guiding principles, most of which has been fully introduced and learned while they are in school will help to discharge the duties of the profession with all fairness and high level of excellence.

Lastly, as earlier stated that the profession is duly backed up by the act of government. The Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) Act 2003 was assented to by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo and had since then become the legal backing of this noble profession. You can easily visit any of the search engine to get a copy while you can also get one from the NISLT website www.nislt.gov.ng. You will see clearly how the act fully describe the existence of  SLT in detail.

It’s time to correct the erroneous impression of this profession with this informative piece. We are distinguished and our profession is a great one  indeed.

Written by

Peter Oni (Biochemistry Technique)

Contributors

Akpede Akpevwe (Biomedical Technique)

Olagbaju Olugbenga (Geology & Mining Technique)