nbte proposes btech degree powers for polytechnics

The National Board for Technical Education has tabled changes to the Polytechnic Act that would enable polytechnics to confer Bachelor of Technology honours degrees, Director‑General Prof Idris Bugaje said. The proposal keeps the National Diploma pathway and aims to narrow the gap between Higher National Diploma and university degree holders.

Bugaje added that the board plans to allocate between N1 billion and N1.5 billion to each polytechnic to set up production lines under the One Product, One Polytechnic scheme. The scheme requires institutions to manufacture at least one local product.

The announcement was made at a strategic session organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja. Stakeholders discussed linking technical education more closely with research and industry. If approved, the amendment could expand the qualifications polytechnics can award and strengthen their role in producing skilled workers for manufacturing and infrastructure.