The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, has revealed plans to phase out the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nigeria and replace it with a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech Honours) degree. This move, he explained, aims to address the long-standing discrimination against HND holders in employment and career progression.
Professor Bugaje described the existing disparity between HND and university degree holders as a “sign of underdevelopment,” stressing that Nigeria must change its perception and policies towards technical education if it hopes to achieve economic growth.
“What we are doing to HND holders in Nigeria is a sign that our system is not yet developed. There is a need to change that attitude and mindset,” Bugaje said.
He noted that in several countries, including South Africa and Ghana, holders of higher technical diplomas are more sought after by industries than traditional university graduates. According to him, “I worked in South Africa for one year, and before HND graduates even finish, industries come to recruit them. Meanwhile, BSc holders are left to look for jobs on their own. But in Nigeria, it’s the reverse.”
The NBTE boss explained that various attempts have been made to eliminate the HND-BSc dichotomy through legislation, but previous bills were never signed into law. He stated that under the new administration, the Board is proposing a complete reform that will allow polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (Honours) degrees instead of HNDs.
“Technical education should end with the National Diploma. After the ND, students can proceed to pursue a Bachelor of Technology Honours degree. Polytechnics should be empowered to award these degrees, which will focus on character, learning, and skills,” Bugaje said.
He added that Ghana implemented this model almost a decade ago, while South Africa has allowed both academic and technical degree paths to coexist for over 30 years. Bugaje emphasized that Nigeria should adopt a similar structure that reflects global best practices.
“There is already a bill being sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to amend the Polytechnic Act,” he said. “This amendment will allow polytechnics to offer Bachelor of Technology Honours degrees instead of HNDs. However, these degrees will differ from traditional university degrees because at least 70 percent of their content will be hands-on, focusing heavily on practical and industrial skills.”
The NBTE chief expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as passionate about Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), would support the proposed reforms.
“We are pushing it from our end, and we hope the National Assembly will fast-track it so that this issue becomes a thing of the past,” he concluded.