The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has warned all professional and examination bodies in Nigeria to stop the unauthorized conduct and award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
This warning was contained in a statement released on Thursday in Kaduna by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Prof. Idris Bugaje, through the Head of Media and Publicity, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar.
According to Abubakar, Bugaje expressed concern over the growing activities of some organizations falsely claiming the authority to design, conduct, and issue ND and HND certificates in different fields. He described such acts as “illegal” and a clear violation of the law that established the NBTE.
She explained that, in line with the Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, as amended by Act 16 of 1985, the NBTE remains the only institution legally empowered to approve, accredit, and regulate all programmes leading to the award of ND and HND qualifications in Nigeria.
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The board emphasized that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions — including polytechnics, colleges of health, colleges of nursing sciences, colleges of agriculture, and other specialized schools — that meet NBTE standards are permitted to run ND and HND programmes.
The NBTE further warned that it would not hesitate to apply both regulatory and legal sanctions against any professional or examination body found involved in such illegal practices.
“All stakeholders and members of the public are advised to take note and ensure full compliance with existing regulations governing technical education in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The warning follows the Board’s earlier declaration in September that it would continue its clampdown on unapproved institutions parading themselves as polytechnics, reiterating its commitment to maintaining quality standards in technical education across the country.
