No More HND Stigma: Polytechnics to award degrees

In a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s tertiary education framework, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to eliminate the long-criticised Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy by authorising polytechnics to award degrees.

The initiative, aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education, was announced on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a retreat attended by governing council chairmen, commissioners for education, rectors, registrars and bursars of polytechnics across the country.

Dr Alausa described the policy as a decisive break from decades of structural imbalance that had placed polytechnic graduates at a disadvantage within the labour market. He said the reform would reposition polytechnics as centres of excellence while retaining their practical, industry-driven mandate.

According to the minister, Nigeria’s economic competitiveness hinges on a workforce capable of innovation, production and problem-solving, rather than excessive dependence on theoretical training.

He explained that the move was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on employment generation, industrial expansion and sustainable human capital development.

With the new status, polytechnics are expected to benefit from stronger collaboration with industry, enhanced funding prospects and renewed public trust. Dr Alausa assured stakeholders that the transition would be regulated by strict quality assurance benchmarks to ensure international standards are met.

Speaking under the theme “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,” the minister stressed that polytechnics remain central to building a skills-oriented economy.

He noted that the Ministry of Education had prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure graduates are adequately prepared for modern workplaces and emerging industries.

Dr Alausa challenged institutional leaders to deepen innovation through entrepreneurship centres, research hubs and active partnerships with the private sector, highlighting renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing and climate-resilient solutions as key focus areas.

On governance, he cautioned that the new phase must be anchored on transparency and ethical leadership, calling for prudent financial management, prompt audits and zero tolerance for corruption.

He also urged polytechnics to embrace sustainability by expanding internally generated revenue, developing environmentally friendly campuses and investing in resilient infrastructure. Institutions, he said, should increasingly produce what they consume in order to reduce import dependence.

While acknowledging obstacles such as inadequate funding, obsolete facilities and societal preference for university degrees, the minister maintained that the benefits of the reform far outweighed the challenges.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s backing, he announced a special TETFund intervention this year to modernise polytechnic engineering schools with advanced equipment, following a similar upgrade of 12 medical colleges last year.

Charging participants to return to their institutions as reform champions, Dr Alausa declared: “The future of our youth, our economy and our nation depends on the transformation we ignite here today.”

Education experts at the retreat hailed the announcement as a watershed moment, predicting increased enrolment, improved staff morale and stronger contributions from polytechnics to sectors such as manufacturing, technology, agriculture and renewable energy.