Polytechnics to Award Degrees as FG Targets End to HND Dichotomy

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ending the long-standing discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, announcing plans to empower polytechnics across the country to award degrees as part of sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, made the announcement on Wednesday while addressing a high-level retreat attended by council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars and bursars of polytechnics nationwide.

Describing the initiative as a landmark policy shift, Alausa said the reform would dismantle decades of structural bias against polytechnic graduates while repositioning technical and vocational education as a critical driver of national development.

Speaking on the theme “Transforming Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: Innovation, Good Governance and Sustainability for National Development,” the minister stressed that polytechnics play a central role in building a skills-driven economy.

“Polytechnics are not mere institutions; they are the crucibles where innovation meets practicality, where skills forge economic resilience, and where sustainable development becomes a lived reality for our nation,” he said.

According to Alausa, granting degree-awarding status to polytechnics would place them on a stronger footing within Nigeria’s higher education system while preserving their core strength in hands-on, industry-oriented training. He noted that Nigeria’s future competitiveness depends on a workforce equipped to create, build and solve real-world problems.

The minister explained that the reform aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, industrial growth and human capital development. With degree-awarding powers, polytechnics are expected to attract stronger industry partnerships, improved funding opportunities and greater public confidence.

Alausa assured stakeholders that the transition would be guided by clear standards, robust regulation and quality assurance mechanisms to ensure global competitiveness and maintain academic integrity.

He further disclosed that the Ministry of Education has prioritised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure graduates are industry-ready, innovative and capable of driving economic growth. He urged polytechnic leaders to deepen innovation through entrepreneurship centres, research hubs and strategic industry collaborations.

Renewable energy, agri-technology, digital manufacturing and climate-resilient solutions, he said, would be priority focus areas under the new framework.

On governance, the minister warned that transparency, accountability and ethical leadership must define the new era of polytechnic administration. He called for fiscal discipline, timely audits, prudent resource management and zero tolerance for corruption.

Alausa also emphasised sustainability, encouraging institutions to boost internally generated revenue through production and service delivery, develop eco-friendly campuses and invest in resilient infrastructure. Polytechnics, he added, should aim to produce what they consume and support national needs by reducing dependence on imports.

While acknowledging challenges such as funding gaps, outdated facilities and societal bias in favour of university degrees, the minister said the opportunities ahead far outweigh the obstacles.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting polytechnics through policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades and strategic partnerships, announcing a special TETFund intervention this year to upgrade polytechnic engineering schools with state-of-the-art equipment, following a similar intervention for medical colleges last year.

Charging participants to return to their institutions as agents of change, Alausa said the future of Nigeria’s youth and economy depends on the reforms being driven within the polytechnic system.