The Federal Government is moving to reform Nigeria’s tertiary education system by granting Polytechnics and the authority to award Bachelor’s degrees, ending the traditional Higher National Diploma (HND) divide that has long separated Polytechnic and University graduates.

The announcement came on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during a meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, with education stakeholders, including polytechnic rector, commissioners, and regulators.

The Minister described the move as historic step to enhance technical education, ensure parity for polytechnic graduates, and promote human capital development inline with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

This reform is expected to eliminate career barriers faced by HND holders, improve the employability of polytechnic graduates, and strengthen Nigeria’s technical and vocational education sector.

Stakeholders welcomed the initiative, highlighting that degree-awarding status for polytechnics will help attract investments and foster research, and encourage industry collaborations, while empowering students to compete equally in the job market with university graduates.

If implemented, the policy will mark a significant transformation in Nigeria’s education landscape, bridging the gap between universities and polytechnics and enhancing the contribution of technical education to national development.