KADUNA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has issued a formal warning to professional and examination bodies across the country to cease the unauthorized issuance of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates, calling the practice illegal and a threat to educational integrity.
In a statement released Thursday, NBTE Executive Secretary Idris Bugaje condemned the actions of certain organizations allegedly designing, conducting, and awarding ND and HND qualifications without legal authority. The board emphasized that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions — including polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, health technology, agriculture, and other specialized schools — are legally permitted to offer such programs.
Bugaje cited the Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, amended by Act 16 of 1985, which grants NBTE exclusive authority to accredit and regulate all programs leading to ND and HND awards in Nigeria. He warned that the board would pursue regulatory and legal action against any body found violating these provisions.
President Bola Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Education, commended the NBTE’s action and called for a nationwide audit of institutions offering technical qualifications. “We must protect the credibility of our education system,” the adviser said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged lawmakers to consider legislation imposing stiffer penalties on entities found guilty of issuing unauthorized diplomas. “This is not merely an academic issue — it’s a matter of national integrity,” he said.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani pledged full support for the board’s enforcement efforts, announcing plans to collaborate with federal agencies to shut down unaccredited institutions operating within the state. “Kaduna will not tolerate diploma mills,” he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) also weighed in, warning that the proliferation of unauthorized diploma programs undermines the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary education system. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke called for stronger oversight and investment in public institutions to close regulatory gaps.
Civil society organizations urged transparency in enforcement, calling for a public registry of accredited institutions and a whistleblower system to protect students from fraudulent programs.
The NBTE reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on unaccredited entities falsely operating as polytechnics, citing concerns over the erosion of educational standards and the government’s efforts to ensure quality learning nationwide.
