FG To Address HND Discrimination, Empower Polytechnics To Award Degrees

IN its bid to reposition technical and vocational education as a driver of national development, the Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the controversial dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and university degree by empowering polytechnics to award degrees.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who disclosed this in Abuja while addressing a high-level retreat of council chairmen, commissioners of Education, rectors, registrars and bursars, described the move as a landmark policy shift that would end decades of discrimination against polytechnic graduates and elevate polytechnics into centres of excellence within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Alausa said will place polytechnic education on a stronger footing, while preserving its core strength in hands-on, industry-focused training, noting that Nigeria’s future competitiveness depended on a workforce equipped to create, build and solve real-world problems.
He stated that the policy aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritised job creation, industrial growth and human capital development, adding that with degree-awarding status, polytechnics are expected to attract stronger industry partnerships, improved funding opportunities and greater public confidence.
The minister assured stakeholders that the transition would be guided by clear standards, strong regulation and quality assurance mechanisms to ensure global competitiveness.
Alausa, speaking on the theme, ‘Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,’ said polytechnics were critical to building a skills-driven economy, explaining that his ministry had prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure graduates were industry-ready, innovative and capable of driving economic growth.
He urged polytechnic leaders to entrench innovation through entrepreneurship centres, research hubs and robust industry partnerships, identifying renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing and climate-resilient solutions as priority areas.
He warned that transparency, accountability and ethical leadership must define the new era in polytechnic administration, urging fiscal discipline, timely audits, prudent resource management and zero tolerance for corruption.
The minister stressed sustainability, encouraging institutions to increase internally-generated revenue through production and services, develop eco-friendly campuses and build resilient infrastructure, charging polytechnics to produce what they consumed and support national needs by reducing dependence on imports.
Alausa acknowledged challenges, such as funding gaps, outdated facilities and societal bias in favour of university degrees, saying the opportunities ahead were far greater.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting polytechnics through policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades and partnerships, announcing a special TETFund intervention this year to upgrade polytechnic engineering schools with state-of-the-art equipment, following a similar intervention for 12 medical colleges last year.
He charged participants to return to their institutions as agents of change, noting: “The future of our youth, our economy and our nation depends on the transformation we ignite here today.”