The Federal Government has launched new Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Networking, marking a significant step in modernizing Nigeria’s technical education system. This move is part of a broader effort to align the country’s educational offerings with global technology trends and the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the initiative as a strategic milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s plan to equip young Nigerians with the digital skills essential for today’s economy. He said the traditional HND structure has been broken down into more focused skill areas, with the new programmes already being rolled out under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
As part of the reform, the NBTE is also overhauling its governance systems by integrating digital tools. A new AI-powered accreditation platform has been introduced to monitor academic quality and ensure institutional transparency. The system can detect duplicate faculty appointments across polytechnics and helps to prevent academic malpractice. Institutions are now required to upload detailed data on faculty, infrastructure, and equipment to a centralized digital portal. This reduces the need for physical inspections and cuts costs while ensuring credibility in the accreditation process.
For schools in remote regions without stable internet, NBTE-accredited vendors will handle assessments and submit verification reports to the Board for final review.
These reforms are guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which set out specific benchmarks for each ND and HND program, including the required infrastructure and faculty expertise. The goal is to position Nigerian polytechnics as globally competitive institutions that support national development through technology.
NBTE’s Executive Secretary emphasized that embedding technology into education is no longer optional for Nigeria. According to him, such reforms are essential if the country is to drive inclusive growth, increase GDP, and compete in the global digital economy. He pointed to Southeast Asia as a model, where strategic investments in tech education have significantly boosted development.
With these new HND programmes and digital governance tools, Nigeria is taking a decisive step towards building a skilled, future-ready workforce capable of meeting the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving world.
