The National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) has cautioned all professional and examination bodies in Nigeria to desist from the illegal conduct and award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
This was disclosed in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna by the
Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, through the board’s Head, Media and Publicity, Mrs Fatima Abubakar.
She announced that the Executive Secretary (ES), Prof. Idris Bugaje, has issued a circular, expressing concern over the activities of certain professional and examination bodies purporting to design, conduct, and award ND and HND certificates in various disciplines.
He described such actions as illegal and a violation of the NBTE’s establishing Act.
According to him, “The NBTE remains the only body legally empowered under the Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, as amended by Act 16 of 1985, to approve, accredit, and regulate all programmes leading to the award of ND and HND certificates in Nigeria”,
The Board further explained that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, including Polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, colleges of health, colleges of agriculture, and other specialized institutions that meet prescribed standards are authorized to run ND and HND programmes.
The NBTE therefore warned that it would not hesitate to take regulatory and legal action against any professional or examination body found engaging in such illegal practices.
The Board urged all stakeholders and the public to take note and ensure strict compliance with established regulations governing technical education in the country.
Victoria Ibanga