Polytechnics set for B.Tech degrees as NBTE pushes HND reform
Regulator links proposed degree upgrade to ongoing amendment of the Polytechnic Act and skills-focused education push.
Nigeria polytechnics may soon begin awarding Bachelor of Technology degrees in science, technology and engineering programmes as part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning technical education and addressing long-standing concerns over the Higher National Diploma structure.
The policy direction was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Idris Bugaje, during a retreat for governing council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars and bursars held in Abuja.
Bugaje said the move is tied to the amendment of the Polytechnic Act, which has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, and would allow polytechnics to award National Diplomas and Bachelor of Technology degrees in science, technology and engineering fields. He explained that non-science programmes would continue under the Higher National Diploma framework, with clearer progression routes to postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees.
According to him, the reforms reflect renewed attention to technical and vocational education and training driven by deliberate policy actions in recent years.
“Technical and vocational education and training have recorded renewed progress through deliberate government interventions, and the ongoing amendment of the Polytechnic Act will further strengthen the sector,” Bugaje said.
He added that the proposed changes are intended to refocus polytechnic education on skills development and industry relevance rather than academic parity with universities.
“Polytechnics must not try to replicate the university system. They must remain centres of practical training and skills acquisition that produce industry-ready graduates,” he said.
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Bugaje also highlighted recent interventions aimed at strengthening technical education, including free technical education in Federal Technical Colleges, the introduction of stipends to boost enrolment, the establishment of Skills Training Centres across the country, and efforts to upgrade engineering schools to meet global standards.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, assured stakeholders of sustained government support for the reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the changes as critical to strengthening polytechnics and eliminating long-standing structural barriers.
“The Federal Ministry of Education has prioritised the revitalisation of technical and vocational education and training to produce graduates equipped with practical and problem-solving skills,” Alausa said.
He urged polytechnics to lead in innovation, governance and sustainability, stressing that institutions must go beyond certification to play a direct role in national development.
“Innovation must be the heartbeat of our polytechnics. I urge you to foster entrepreneurship centres, research hubs and industry partnerships that turn ideas into prototypes and inventions into enterprises that will produce job creators,” the minister said.
Alausa added that polytechnics should position themselves at the forefront of emerging sectors, including renewable energy, agricultural technology, digital manufacturing and climate-resilient solutions, noting that these areas align with Nigeria’s broader sustainable development goals.
He further stressed the importance of transparency, accountability and ethical leadership in polytechnic administration, warning that long-term sustainability would require stable funding, stronger internally generated revenue, environmentally responsible campuses and reduced dependence on imports.
Chairman of the Committee of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology, Sani Tunga, said polytechnics remain critical to Nigeria’s manpower development but continue to face deep-rooted challenges.
“Polytechnics play a vital role in producing skilled and entrepreneurial manpower, but the sector still grapples with inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, governance gaps and misalignment with evolving industry needs,” Tunga said.
He noted that the retreat created space for honest engagement among stakeholders and helped reduce tensions between governing councils, management teams and staff unions through dialogue and shared best practices.
The push to empower polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology degrees comes amid decades of criticism of the Higher National Diploma system, which many students and education advocates say has limited career progression and disadvantaged technically trained graduates in employment and professional recognition.
Lawmakers backing the amendment of the Polytechnic Act have described the reform as a necessary step toward narrowing the divide between Higher National Diploma holders and university degree graduates, while strengthening technical education as a driver of economic growth.
Education analysts say the success of the reforms will depend on how effectively institutions align new qualifications with industry needs and whether supporting investments in infrastructure, staffing and curriculum delivery are sustained.
