DEVELOPMENT
FG Moves to End HND–Degree Divide as Polytechnics Set to Award University Degrees
In what is being widely described as a historic turning point for Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Federal Government has announced plans to empower polytechnics across the country to award degrees, effectively ending the long-standing Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy that has hampered the academic and career progression of polytechnic graduates.
The landmark announcement was made in Abuja on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a high-level retreat attended by key stakeholders in the education sector. Participants at the retreat included commissioners for education, rectors of polytechnics, registrars, bursars, and governing council chairmen.
The retreat, themed “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,” provided the platform for the Federal Government to unveil its vision of repositioning polytechnic education as a central pillar of national development.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that abolishing the HND–degree dichotomy would elevate polytechnics into true centres of excellence, capable of driving Nigeria’s skills development agenda and competing favourably on the global stage. He noted that the current discrimination against HND holders has for decades undermined the value of technical and vocational education, despite its critical importance to industrial growth and economic sustainability.
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s quest for competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy demands an education system that prioritizes practical, skills-based training, an area where polytechnics have a natural advantage. He stressed that empowering polytechnics to award degrees would strengthen job creation, stimulate industrial expansion, and deepen human capital development.
Dr. Alausa further explained that the proposed reforms align squarely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on inclusive growth, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.
Calling on polytechnic administrators to rise to the occasion, the Minister urged them to institutionalize innovation by establishing functional entrepreneurship centres, research and development hubs, and strong industry partnerships. He identified renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing, and climate-resilient solutions as priority areas that polytechnics must focus on to remain relevant and impactful.
The announcement has been greeted with optimism among polytechnic students and graduates nationwide, many of whom have endured years of marginalization in employment, career advancement, and postgraduate opportunities. If fully implemented, the policy is expected to restore confidence in polytechnic education and mark the beginning of a new era of equity, relevance, and respect for technical educatio
n in Nigeria.