The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to end the long-standing Higher National Diploma (HND) dichotomy by granting polytechnics the authority to award degrees, describing the reform as a major step toward strengthening technical and vocational education as a driver of national development.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the policy shift in Abuja on Thursday at a retreat of governing council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars, and bursars. He described the move as historic, noting that it would finally end years of discrimination against polytechnic graduates and reposition polytechnics as centres of excellence within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Alausa said the reform would strengthen polytechnic education while preserving its practical and industry-oriented focus, stressing that Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness depends on a workforce capable of creating, building, and solving real-life problems. He added that the policy aligns with Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises employment generation, industrial expansion, and human capital development.
According to the minister, granting degree-awarding status to polytechnics would attract deeper industry collaboration, improve access to funding opportunities, and boost public confidence in technical education. He assured stakeholders that the transition would be guided by clear standards, strong regulation, and robust quality assurance frameworks to ensure international competitiveness.
Speaking on the theme, “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,” Alausa said polytechnics are critical to building a skills-based economy. He disclosed that the ministry has made Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) a top priority to ensure graduates are innovative, industry-ready, and positioned to drive economic growth.
The minister called on polytechnic administrators to promote innovation through entrepreneurship hubs, research centres, and stronger industry linkages, identifying renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing, and climate-resilient solutions as key focus areas.
He also underscored the importance of sustainability, urging institutions to increase internally generated revenue through production and service delivery, promote environmentally friendly campuses, and invest in resilient infrastructure. According to him, polytechnics should strive for self-sufficiency while contributing to national self-reliance by reducing import dependence.
While acknowledging challenges such as funding gaps, outdated facilities, and societal preference for university education, Alausa maintained that the opportunities ahead far outweigh the difficulties. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting polytechnics through policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and strategic partnerships.
The minister further announced a special intervention by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund this year to equip polytechnic engineering schools with modern facilities, following a similar upgrade of 12 medical colleges in the previous year.
Urging participants to return to their institutions as champions of reform, Alausa said Nigeria’s future depends on the successful transformation of polytechnic education initiated at the retreat.