Professor Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, has proposed the elimination of the Higher National Diploma (HND) awarded by polytechnics in Nigeria. Speaking at a national dialogue on ‘The Future of HND in the Nigerian Educational Landscape’ in Abuja, organized by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Olaopa emphasized the need to address the longstanding professional conflict between B.Sc./B.Tech. and HND degree holders.
He referenced a 2007 memorandum from the Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (COHEADS) to the Presidential Technical Committee on the Consolidation of Tertiary Institutions, which suggested converting polytechnics into campuses of nearby universities. Additionally, the largest polytechnics in each geopolitical zone would be upgraded to full-fledged universities of technology.
Olaopa argued that scrapping the HND would be a pivotal move, recommending that the National Diploma (ND) remain as a qualification for entry into the new and existing universities of technology and affiliated schools of technology. He proposed creating two streams of degrees: B.Sc. (Technology) and B.Tech., with the latter focusing on technical skills and competencies for a wide range of careers. This model is being pioneered by the First Technical University, Ibadan, where Olaopa served on the Governing Council.
However, he acknowledged that recent policy measures have not been practical or rigorous enough to achieve their intended objectives. He suggested that while the orientations of polytechnics and universities differ, they could be harmonized and made complementary through creative restructuring.
