By Uzo Ugwunze
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Oko Chapter, has called for urgent reforms to reposition polytechnic education in Nigeria and eliminate the long-standing HND-BSc dichotomy.
The union made the call during the commissioning of its new secretariat and the 2026 International Hybrid Conference themed “Recalibrating Polytechnic Education for Sustainable Development.”
ASUP Chairman, Barr. Fidelis Odua, said the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s degree holders continues to limit employment opportunities and career growth for polytechnic graduates.
He stressed the need for the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to implement policies that will ensure equal recognition of qualifications and improve funding for polytechnics.
According to Odua, the conference provided a platform for stakeholders to develop solutions, with a communiqué to be forwarded to the Federal Government.
Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, noted that strengthening polytechnic education would boost industrial productivity, reduce youth unemployment, and enhance technological development.
She urged stakeholders to align curricula with labour market demands and focus on practical, skill-based training.
In a paper on digital transformation, Deputy Rector Dr. Nkiruka Akabuike recommended increased investment in ICT, industry collaboration, and adoption of innovative teaching methods to improve graduate employability.
Other speakers also advocated stronger partnerships with the private sector to address funding challenges.
Chairman of the conference, Dr. Chibuzo Asomugha, however, expressed concern over the absence of key government stakeholders, stressing the need for policy actors to drive implementation of conference resolutions.
The event also featured the commissioning of the ASUP secretariat, described as a major achievement of the current leadership.
Tags: ASUP, Polytechnic Education, HND BSc Dichotomy, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Education Reform, Nigeria Education, NBTE, Technical Education, ICT in Education, Skills Development
