The National Universities Commission (NUC) has officially declared its non-recognition of the one-year top-degree program purportedly introduced by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Nigerian polytechnics.
The program was designed to enable holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) to convert their qualifications into first-degree equivalents in collaboration with foreign accredited universities.
The declaration, according to the Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Chris Maiyaki, in a statement, comes in response to reports attributed to the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Professor Idirs Bugaje, who stated that the program aimed to eliminate the existing dichotomy between HND graduates and university degree holders in the workplace, ultimately enhancing the opportunities for further education among HND holders.
Maiyaki clarified that the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and HND in the Same Profession and Field for the Purpose of Employment and for Related Matters,” passed by the 9th National Assembly in 2021, has not received presidential assent.
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Therefore, as of the moment, there is no legal provision that has removed the dichotomy between a university degree and an HND.
NUC’s Acting Executive Secretary highlighted the legal framework governing university education in Nigeria, emphasizing that the Commission possesses the authority to supervise and regulate university education, establish minimum academic standards, and accredit programs offered by institutions that award degrees.
Maiyaki reiterated that a university degree, whether from Nigerian or related institutions, is not equivalent to an HND awarded by polytechnics in the country. He emphasized the substantial differences in the processes, contents, and methodologies required for acquiring these qualifications.
Also, NUC underlined that post-graduate level admission into Master’s degree programs in Nigerian universities for candidates with HNDs necessitates the acquisition of a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) from a recognized university relevant to the field of study.
The Commission’s statement also made it clear that individuals wishing to further their education through the alleged NBTE’s one-year Top-Up Program would be subject to the existing admission requirements of Nigerian universities while distancing itself from the so-called Top-Up Scheme developed by NBTE.
The NUC then advised the NBTE to focus on its core mandate and abstain from introducing programs that fall outside its jurisdiction and lack legal support in Nigeria.
This statement serves as an official stance by the NUC on the controversial top-degree program and provides clarity on the ongoing debate surrounding HND and university degrees in the country.