The federal government has launched new Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in artificial intelligence (AI), as part of a broader initiative to modernize Nigeria’s technical education and align with global technological advancements.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He said the newly introduced programmes also include cybersecurity, software engineering, and networking.
Bugaje described the move as a major step in assessing President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance after two years, stating that it positions Nigeria’s education sector to better engage with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“We have unbundled the traditional HND programmes into more specific skill areas,” Bugaje said.
“This is already being implemented, and, under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), we are offering even more specialized training modules in these areas.”
He added that the NBTE’s expansion into AI and emerging technologies goes beyond curriculum updates, explaining that digital tools are now being embedded into the governance and regulation of technical institutions.
“For example, a digital accreditation platform powered by AI has been deployed to monitor compliance with academic standards, identify faculty duplications, and curb malpractices.
“If a lecturer appears on multiple polytechnic websites, the AI system will flag it. This will help us maintain integrity in the accreditation process,” he explained.
Under the new system, institutions are mandated to upload comprehensive data about their facilities, equipment, and faculty onto a centralized digital platform.
“With this, we no longer need to send teams physically for most accreditations.
“This saves cost, reduces risk, and curbs manipulation of the process,” Bugaje noted.
For institutions located in remote areas with unreliable internet connectivity, the NBTE has provided an interim solution. According to Bugaje, these institutions will be assessed by accredited vendors who will collect and submit their reports to NBTE for approval or rejection of programmes.
He further stated that this new digital accreditation model is guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which define detailed requirements for every National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, covering facilities, faculty qualifications, and equipment.
Bugaje emphasized that these reforms—both in accreditation and curriculum—are intended to ensure that Nigeria’s polytechnics remain competitive and responsive to global trends.
“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 NBTE’s latest efforts aim to replicate the technology-driven growth models seen in Southeast Asia, with the ultimate goal of boosting Nigeria’s GDP through innovation-led education reform.
(NAN)
