The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has cautioned all professional and examination bodies across Nigeria to desist from the illegal conduct of awarding National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, who expressed deep concern over the growing activities of some professional and examination bodies claiming to design, conduct, and award ND and HND certificates in various fields.
Prof. Bugaje described such actions as unlawful and a direct violation of the Act establishing the NBTE. He emphasised that the board remains the only body legally empowered under Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, as amended by Act 16 of 1985, to approve, accredit, and regulate all programmes leading to the award of ND and HND certificates in Nigeria.
“The NBTE is the sole regulatory authority for all programmes leading to the award of National and Higher National Diplomas in the country,” the statement read. “Any other organisation or institution claiming to perform such roles is operating outside the law and will face appropriate sanctions.”
According to the board, only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions—such as polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, colleges of health, colleges of agriculture, and other specialised institutions that meet prescribed academic and infrastructural standards are authorised to run ND and HND programmes.
The NBTE reiterated that the integrity of Nigeria’s technical education system must be preserved, warning that unregulated awards by unauthorised bodies risk devaluing the credibility of national qualifications and undermining the country’s human capital development goals.
The board further cautioned that it would not hesitate to take legal or regulatory action against any professional or examination body involved in these illegal practices, stressing that violators will be prosecuted in line with existing laws.
“The Board will continue to monitor compliance and ensure that all technical and vocational programmes in Nigeria adhere to the required national standards,” the statement added.
The NBTE also urged all stakeholders—including students, parents, employers, and government agencies—to verify the accreditation status of institutions offering ND and HND programmes before enrolment or recognition of certificates.
By doing so, the board said, the public can help prevent the proliferation of fake qualifications and safeguard the reputation of Nigeria’s technical education system.
Prof. Bugaje reaffirmed the NBTE’s commitment to promoting quality assurance, standardisation, and innovation in technical and vocational education, describing it as a crucial driver for national development and industrial growth.
“The NBTE remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that every technical and vocational programme in Nigeria meets globally acceptable standards. We urge all stakeholders to support this mission and desist from acts that undermine the credibility of our educational system,” he said.
