In a significant address to revitalizing Nigeria’s polytechnic education, the former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Prof. Olu Aina, has urged the Federal Government to empower polytechnics to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in technology-related fields. He emphasized that this shift would enhance the relevance of polytechnics and position them as key drivers of national development.
Prof. Aina made this call during the 8th combined convocation lecture of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State, where he delivered a paper titled “Revitalising Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: From Challenges to Opportunities.”
Abolishment of HND Proposed
In his speech, Aina advocated for the scrapping of the Higher National Diploma (HND) and suggested that the National Diploma (ND) program be restructured to include a three-year curriculum with mandatory six-month apprenticeship periods during the first and second years.
He stated, “All polytechnics in Nigeria should retain their designations but be statutorily empowered to offer degree programs at Bachelor, Master’s, and Ph.D. levels in technology-related disciplines. A transition period of at least five to six years should be provided to allow academic staff with lower qualifications to upgrade.”
Criticism of NBTE’s Role
Prof. Aina criticized the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its inability to effectively fulfill its regulatory functions, attributing the lagging performance of Nigerian polytechnics compared to global counterparts to the board’s inefficiency.
He proposed the establishment of a new commission dedicated to overseeing polytechnics, noting, “The NBTE today is part of the problem rather than the solution for polytechnics in Nigeria.”
Technology and Entrepreneurship for Development
Highlighting the importance of technology and entrepreneurship in driving national competitiveness, Aina stressed the need for a tertiary education system capable of propelling Nigeria’s development in a dynamic, globalized world.
His recommendations have sparked discussions about the future of polytechnic education in Nigeria and the potential transformation of the nation’s technical and vocational education landscape.
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