FG TO SCRAP HND–BSC DICHOTOMY, EMPOWER POLYTECHNICS TO AWARD DEGREES
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has announced a major policy shift aimed at ending decades of discrimination against polytechnic graduates by granting polytechnics the authority to award degrees, a move hailed by education experts as a transformative step for technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
The announcement was made at a high-level retreat in Abuja attended by governing council chairmen, rectors, registrars, bursars, and commissioners for education. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the reform as a landmark policy designed to restore dignity to polytechnic education and reposition the institutions as central pillars of national development.
“This is about building a workforce that can create, build, and solve real-world problems. Nigeria’s future competitiveness depends on practical skills, innovation, and industry relevance rather than certificates alone,” Alausa said.
For decades, HND holders have faced limited career progression, wage disparities, and social bias compared with university degree holders, despite comparable or superior hands-on training. The new policy aims to close this gap while retaining polytechnics’ strength in applied, industry-focused education.
Under the reform, polytechnics will strengthen industry partnerships, establish research hubs, and develop entrepreneurship centres. Priority sectors identified include renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing, and climate-resilient solutions. Alausa emphasized that polytechnics should become problem-solving hubs, translating ideas into prototypes and innovations into enterprises.
The Minister also underscored the importance of good governance, transparency, and fiscal discipline. Polytechnics are encouraged to boost internally generated revenue, develop eco-friendly campuses, and invest in resilient infrastructure. “Produce what you consume—from energy and food to basic equipment—while supporting national efforts to reduce import dependence,” he said.
Funding remains a key challenge, but Alausa highlighted TETFund’s planned intervention to upgrade polytechnic engineering schools with modern equipment, following a similar program for 12 medical colleges. The move is expected to improve technical capacity, enhance training quality, and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital.
Dr. Sani Usman Tenga, Chairman of the Committee of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS), lauded the reform, calling for unity, good governance, and collective responsibility. He acknowledged challenges including inadequate funding, outdated facilities, and industrial disputes, but stressed that opportunities far outweigh obstacles.
Education experts at the retreat described the policy as a potential turning point that could boost enrolment, motivate students and staff, and enhance polytechnics’ contribution to manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and renewable energy.
If successfully implemented, the reform could finally blur the artificial line between theory and practice, ushering in an era where skills, innovation, and productivity define success in Nigeria’s higher education system.
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