By Atoyebi Nike
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has warned all professional and examination bodies in Nigeria to stop the illegal conduct and award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, issued the warning in a statement on Thursday in Kaduna, through the board’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar.
Bugaje expressed concern over reports of certain organisations claiming to design, conduct, and issue ND and HND certificates, describing the practice as unlawful and a breach of the NBTE Act.
He reaffirmed that only the NBTE established under Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977 and amended by Act 16 of 1985 has the legal mandate to accredit and regulate all diploma-awarding programmes in Nigeria.
The board emphasised that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, including polytechnics, colleges of nursing, health, and agriculture, are authorised to run ND and HND programmes.
NBTE warned that it would take regulatory and legal action against any body found violating these provisions and urged stakeholders to comply with established regulations guiding technical education.
