The Federal Government has launched new Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in networking, software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of a larger initiative to update Nigeria’s technical education system.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), disclosed this, stating that the initiative’s goal is to bring Nigeria’s educational system into line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and worldwide technological advancements.
According to Bugaje, the action marks a significant turning point in the government of President Bola Tinubu’s attempts to give young Nigerians the necessary digital skills for the contemporary economy.
“We have unbundled the traditional HND programs into more specific skill areas. This is already being implemented, and under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), we are offering more specialized training modules in areas like AI, cybersecurity, and networking,” Bugaje said.
To view the list of approved institutions and their programs, click any of the links below:
1. Federal Polytechnics
2. State Polytechnics
3. Private Polytechnics
4. Colleges of Agriculture
5. Colleges of Health Sciences and Technology
6. Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery
7. Specialised Institutions (Monotechnics)
8. Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs)
9. Vocational Enterprise Institutions
10. Technical Colleges
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According to Bugaje, the NBTE has incorporated digital tools into its governance and oversight procedures in addition to curriculum modifications.
He claims that the use of an AI-powered digital accreditation platform to track academic standards, avoid faculty duplication, and stop malpractice in polytechnics is a significant advance.
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“If a lecturer appears on multiple polytechnic websites, the AI system will flag it. This will help us maintain integrity in the accreditation process,” Bugaje explained.
- Technical institutions must now submit comprehensive data about their faculty, equipment, and facilities to a centralized digital portal in accordance with the new system.
- Because of this digital transformation, NBTE may now certify schools without sending out physical teams, which lowers expenses, dangers, and manipulation.
- Bugaje went on to say that approved suppliers would evaluate universities in isolated locations without dependable internet connectivity and submit verification reports for NBTE’s consideration.
Reorienting education through the use of technology
Bugaje pointed out that the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which outline certain requirements for every National Diploma (ND) and HND program, including faculty credentials, infrastructure, and equipment, serve as a guide for the transition.
In order to position Nigerian polytechnics for worldwide relevance and increase the country’s economic competitiveness, he emphasized the importance of these reforms.
“Nigeria is forced to incorporate technology into its economic growth and educational system. In the digital age, this is how we can unleash growth and prosperity,” he stated.
Based on successful models in Southeast Asia, the new programs and accreditation system are anticipated to assist Nigeria in using technology to propel GDP growth.
