The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has issued a stern warning to professional and examination bodies across Nigeria to desist from the illegal conduct and award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
In a statement released on Thursday in Kaduna, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Bugaje, through the board’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, expressed concern over the activities of certain organisations allegedly designing, conducting, and awarding ND and HND certificates in various disciplines.
Bugaje described such actions as unlawful and a clear violation of the NBTE’s establishing Act, noting that only the board is legally empowered to accredit and regulate technical education programmes in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed that under the Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, as amended by Act No. 16 of 1985, the NBTE remains the sole authority responsible for approving, accrediting, and regulating all programmes leading to the award of ND and HND qualifications nationwide.
The board emphasised that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions — including Polytechnics, Colleges of Nursing Sciences, Colleges of Health, Colleges of Agriculture, and other specialised institutions — are authorised to run ND and HND programmes.
NBTE warned that it would take legal and regulatory action against any professional or examination body found engaging in such illegal activities.
The board urged all stakeholders and members of the public to adhere strictly to established regulations guiding technical education in the country, reiterating its commitment to maintaining high standards across Nigeria’s polytechnic and vocational sectors.
In a related development, the NBTE recently reiterated its determination to crack down on unaccredited institutions posing as polytechnics, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring quality and integrity in technical education nationwide.
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