Abuja, Nigeria – March 18, 2025 – The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Idris Bugaje, has declared that skills, not degrees, will determine employability in the future job market.
According to Bugaje, within the next 10 to 15 years, traditional academic qualifications such as the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees will lose their relevance, with industries focusing more on practical competencies rather than paper qualifications.
He stressed that the education system in Nigeria needs urgent reform to prioritize technical and vocational skills, as industries are shifting their employment standards towards skill-based hiring.
HND vs. BSc: A System That Favors Certificates Over Skills
Bugaje criticized the long-standing gap between HND and BSc graduates, calling it a “psychology of underdevelopment.”
He stated that in many cases, HND holders possess stronger technical abilities than their BSc counterparts, yet face career progression barriers in the public sector.
To address this issue, he advocated for a transformation of polytechnic education, suggesting that HND programs should be converted to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees.
This, he explained, would help polytechnic graduates gain equal recognition in the labor market and end the discrimination they face when applying for jobs.
Why Industries Are Prioritizing Skills Over Degrees
The NBTE Chief pointed out that many industries are already shifting their focus away from degrees and towards technical skills.
He cited examples of national projects such as:
- The Dangote Refinery, where foreign workers were brought in due to a lack of skilled Nigerian personnel.
- The Abuja-Kaduna railway extension, where many technical jobs were outsourced to expatriates because local workers lacked the required hands-on skills.
Bugaje expressed concern that Nigeria is losing job opportunities to foreign workers simply because the education system is failing to produce skilled graduates.
NBTE Calls for a National Technical Education Commission
To strengthen technical and vocational education, the NBTE is proposing the creation of a National Commission for Technical Education to replace the current board.
According to Bugaje, this new commission would have broader powers to:
- Develop improved service schemes for polytechnic graduates.
- Secure better funding for technical and vocational education.
- Ensure the proper integration of skills training into Nigeria’s education system.
He emphasized that this move would allow Nigeria to build a more competent workforce, reducing unemployment and dependence on foreign technical labor.
Government Support for Skills-Based Education
Bugaje also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education is taking steps to promote skills training.
He mentioned initiatives like NELFUND, which is providing financial support to vocational students, ensuring that more young Nigerians can acquire industry-relevant skills.
He expressed optimism that with better investment in technical education, Nigeria will be able to handle major industrial projects independently rather than relying on foreign expertise.
The Future of Education: Skills Over Certificates
As Nigeria faces rising unemployment rates, Bugaje’s statement signals a major shift in the country’s approach to education and employment.
If industries continue to prioritize skills over degrees, students and job seekers may need to rethink their educational choices—focusing less on certificate acquisition and more on hands-on training.
The debate over HND vs. BSc recognition may soon become irrelevant, as employers move towards a skills-first hiring approach.
For now, the message is clear—practical skills, not just degrees, will determine success in the future workforce.