The Federal Government has launched new Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes focused on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Networking.
Designed to modernise Nigeria’s technical education and better prepare students for the digital economy, the initiative aims to provide the digital skills required in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Confirming this, Prof. Idris Bugaje, executive secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), said, “We have unbundled the traditional HND programmes into more specific skill areas. This is already being implemented, and under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), we are offering more specialised training modules in areas like AI, cybersecurity, and networking.”
Aside curriculum updates, the NBTE has introduced a digital accreditation platform that uses artificial intelligence to enforce academic standards and root out malpractice. This system flags irregularities such as faculty members listed across multiple institutions, enhancing transparency and accountability.
“If a lecturer appears on multiple polytechnic websites, the AI system will flag it. This will help us maintain integrity in the accreditation process,” Bugaje explained.
Institutions must now provide comprehensive data on their infrastructure, faculty qualifications, and equipment via a centralised digital portal. This reduces the need for costly, manual inspections and limits opportunities for corruption or manipulation.
For schools in areas with poor internet connectivity, NBTE will rely on accredited third-party vendors to conduct assessments and submit reports.
Guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), these reforms set benchmarks for technical education quality, spanning faculty expertise, facilities, and resources. Bugaje stressed the necessity of embedding technology in education to ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
“Nigeria has no choice but to embed technology in education and economic development. This is how we can unlock growth and prosperity in the digital age,” he said.
The government’s approach takes cues from Southeast Asia, where tech-focused education reforms have been linked to GDP growth.
With the adoption of similar strategies, Nigeria hopes to revitalise its polytechnic system and strengthen its workforce to meet the demands of digitalisation.
