Minister says Nigeria to allow polytechnics to award degrees, abolish HND dichotomy

ABUJA – The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced plans to abolish the longstanding distinction between Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree certificates by authorizing polytechnics to award their own degrees.

Speaking at a high-level retreat for education stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister stated the policy aims to end years of discrimination against polytechnic graduates and to reposition technical education for national growth. He emphasized that polytechnics would maintain their core focus on practical training while gaining broader academic recognition.

Alausa framed the reform as a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, linking it to job creation, industrial expansion, and human capital development.

He stressed that building a skilled workforce is essential for Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

The minister outlined that the transition will be governed by clear standards, strict regulation, and robust quality assurance measures to meet international benchmarks.

Addressing the retreat’s theme, ‘Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria’, Alausa highlighted the vital role of polytechnics in developing a skills-based economy.

He urged institutions to enhance entrepreneurship centers, research hubs, and industry partnerships, particularly in fields like renewable energy, agricultural technology, and digital manufacturing.

Alausa also called for transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in polytechnic administration.

On sustainability, he encouraged schools to increase internally generated revenue, develop eco-friendly campuses, and reduce import dependency by producing more of what they use.

While acknowledging challenges like limited funding and outdated facilities, the minister revealed that a special TETFund intervention has been approved this year to modernize equipment in polytechnic engineering schools.

Concluding his address, Alausa charged participants to become agents of change, stating, “The future of our youth, our economy and our nation depends on the transformation we ignite here today.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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