Alumni Push Federal Government to End HND–BSc Divide

Dr. Oyedokun Abiodun, president of Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association

The Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Alumni Association has urged the Federal Government to upgrade all polytechnics and finally eliminate the long-standing HND–BSc. dichotomy.

The association’s president, Dr Oyedokun Abiodun, appealed to its second virtual AGM themed “Polytechnic Education and Alumni Engagement: Catalysts for Human Capital Development and a Resilient Economy.”

Abiodun said converting polytechnics into degree-awarding institutions and phasing out HND programmes would strengthen Nigeria’s technological education. He called for a structure in which the National Diploma serves as the entry point for Bachelor of Technology programmes, while retaining “polytechnic” as the institutional identity.

He highlighted alumni contributions, including hostel construction and other support initiatives, and encouraged members to keep developing market-relevant skills as a form of advocacy.

Guest speaker Dr Simbo Popoola described polytechnic education as central to national industrialisation and MSME growth. The Rector, Dr Temitope Alake, emphasised the vital role of alumni in sustaining the system. At the same time, other speakers, including Dr Theresa Akande and Dr Taofik Abdul-Hameed, reinforced the call to replace HNDs with globally recognised B.Tech programmes.