The Federal Government Has Officially Set In Motion A Transformative Plan To Abolish The Long-Standing Dichotomy Between Higher National Diploma (HND) Holders And Bachelor’s Degree Holders.

In A Major Move To Bridge The Gap In Nigeria’s Education Sector, The Government Announced That Polytechnics Will Now Be Empowered To Award Degrees, A Shift Aimed At Ending Years Of Professional Discrimination Against Technical Graduates.

The Minister Of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Made This Landmark Disclosure In Abuja On Wednesday During A High-Level Retreat For Council Chairmen, Rectors, And Education Stakeholders.

Dr. Alausa Described The Policy Shift As A Strategic Move To Elevate Polytechnics Into “Centres Of Excellence,” Ensuring They Are No Longer Viewed As Secondary To Universities But As Equal Partners In National Development.

According To The Minister, This Reform Is Not Just About Changing Certificates But About Repositioning Technical Education To Lead Nigeria’s Industrial Growth.

He Noted That The Future Of The Country’s Economy Depends On A Workforce That Can “Create, Build And Solve Real-World Problems,” A Core Strength Of The Polytechnic System Which Will Now Be Backed By The Prestige Of A Degree.

The Minister Explained That This New Direction Aligns With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

By Granting Degree-Awarding Status, The Government Expects Polytechnics To Attract Better Funding, Forge Stronger Industry Partnerships, And Boost Public Confidence In Technical Vocational Training.

Dr. Alausa Assured That Strict Regulations And Quality Assurance Would Be Maintained To Ensure These New Degrees Meet Global Standards.

Beyond The Certification Changes, The Minister Also Signaled A New Era Of Governance For These Institutions. He Issued A Stern Warning To Polytechnic Administrators, Stating That Transparency, Accountability, And “Zero Tolerance For Corruption” Must Be The Order Of The Day.

Moreover, To Support This Transition, He Announced A Special TETFund Intervention Specifically To Upgrade Engineering Schools Within Polytechnics With State-Of-The-Art Equipment.

While Acknowledging That Challenges Like Outdated Facilities And Societal Bias Still Exist, Dr. Alausa Remained Optimistic.

He Urged Polytechnic Leaders To Return To Their Institutions As “Agents Of Change,” Focusing On Innovative Areas Like Renewable Energy And Digital Manufacturing To Drive The Nation Forward.

In A Related Development, Recall That Stakeholders And The National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) Have Long Campaigned For The “Higher National Diploma Discrimination (Prohibition) Bill.”

This Legislative Push, Which Has Seen Several Versions In The National Assembly, Sought To Penalize Firms And Government Agencies That Treat HND Holders As Inferior To Their University Counterparts In Terms Of Salary And Career Progression.