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.

This initiative emphasizes the global need for skill acquisition in youth training at polytechnics.

In a statement released by Hajiya Fatimah Abubakar, Head of Media for NBTE, it was disclosed that diploma holders will now graduate with a National Skills Qualification (NSQ) or its equivalent, providing them with an additional certification. 

“The MSQ is now a requirement for all diploma programmes and must be attained before graduation,” said Abubakar. She explained that the NSQ is a certification system designed to assess and recognize the practical skills and competencies of individuals, typically obtained through vocational training programmes, apprenticeships, and assessments conducted by approved skill assessment bodies.

“It focuses on vocational skills and is typically obtained through vocational training programmes, apprenticeships, and assessments conducted by approved skill assessment bodies. NSQ aims to bridge the gap between formal education and industry needs by providing individuals with practical skills relevant to the job market,” Abubakar added. 

This dual certification—an NSQ along with an ND—offers a comprehensive skill set, increased employability, versatility, professional recognition, and career progression.

Abubakar further explained that dual certification provides a competitive edge in the job market and opens doors to career advancement opportunities. ”The dual certification offers a competitive edge in the job market, enhances career prospects, and equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in their chosen fields. 

This dual certification is expected to significantly enhance employability. However, NBTE is aware of the limited skills training facilities in our polytechnics and is therefore allowing a phased introduction. This guideline provides polytechnic administrators with methods for implementing this new provision. Quality assurance is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness and relevance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes,” she noted.

To address the limited skills training facilities in polytechnics, NBTE is allowing a phased introduction of the MSQ. Guidelines have been provided to polytechnic administrators to help implement this new provision effectively. Quality assurance will be essential, with assessors evaluating the quality of education and training provided in various technical and vocational fields.

She added that assessors would be key in this process, through evaluating the quality of education and training provided in various technical and vocational fields.

“Assessors serve as important agents in this process, responsible for evaluating the quality of education and training provided in various technical and vocational fields. Their role encompasses assessing standards, learning outcomes, and the overall performance of Skills Development Centres in polytechnics and other TVET institutions.”

“Under the MSQ, HND level students who have acquired NSQ at the ND level can enrol in Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) training as an alternative to another NSQ. The QAA certificate will be valuable in the workplace, as many industries require on-the-job training,” said Abubakar.

She noted that several challenges, including skill shortages, a mismatch between industry needs and training, and a lack of synergy between industry, government agencies, and TVET institutions characterised Nigeria’s technical manpower situation.

The Mandatory Skills Qualification aims to address these issues by enabling graduates to acquire at least one certified skill.