NBTE proposes polytechnic act amendment to allow BTech degrees

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has proposed amendments to the Polytechnic Act to empower polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (BTech) honours degrees while retaining the National Diploma (ND) pathway.

The NBTE Director-General, Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this on Wednesday during a strategic session organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja.

Bugaje said the proposed amendment was part of efforts to address the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and university degree holders.

“The NBTE is pursuing proposed amendments to the Polytechnic Act to allow polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology honours degrees while retaining the National Diploma pathway, as part of efforts to address the disparity between Higher National Diploma and university degree holders,” he said.

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The NBTE chief also disclosed plans to provide between ₦1 billion and ₦1.5 billion to each polytechnic to establish production lines under the proposed One Product, One Polytechnic (1P1P) initiative.

Under the initiative, each polytechnic would be expected to manufacture at least one product locally to boost domestic production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.

Bugaje said the country’s reliance on foreign technology and manufactured goods reflected weak connections between technical education, research and industrial development.

He cited everyday products such as wheelbarrows as examples of items that could be manufactured locally rather than imported.

“Nigerian researchers are not talking to the industry,” he said, urging researchers to engage manufacturers, consumers and other end-users from the early stages of their work to ensure their findings address practical needs.

The strategic session brought stakeholders together to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration among technical education institutions, researchers and industry.

Bugaje called for industry-led curriculum reviews, modern laboratories and workshops, as well as stronger partnerships between polytechnics and private companies to improve practical training and equip students with skills relevant to industrial needs.

(Punch)