Abuja – The Federal Government has directed all polytechnics across Nigeria to begin awarding bachelor’s degrees to Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, a move aimed at elevating the status of technical education in the country.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a retreat for council chairmen, rectors, and key education stakeholders in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa described the policy as a major reform designed to position polytechnics as equal partners with universities in national development. He said the initiative seeks to eliminate professional bias against technical graduates and transform polytechnics into centres of excellence capable of driving industrial and economic growth.
“The reform goes beyond certificate changes; it focuses on strengthening technical education to produce problem-solvers and innovators,” the minister explained.
According to Dr. Alausa, the policy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to improve funding, deepen industry collaboration, and restore public confidence in technical and vocational education.
The minister assured that strict quality assurance measures would be enforced to ensure that degrees awarded by polytechnics meet global standards. He also warned administrators that transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption would be upheld throughout the transition.
To support the initiative, Alausa announced a special TETFund intervention aimed at upgrading engineering programmes in polytechnics with modern equipment. He further encouraged institutional leaders to embrace innovation in fields such as renewable energy and digital manufacturing.
