The National Board for Technical Education NBTE has created a one year online top-up programme for Higher National Diploma holders to convert their certification to Bachelor’s Degree.
The board disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its Head of Media Unit, Mrs Fatima Abubakar.
Abubakar said the essence of the creation was to end the challenges holders face in course of migrations to Nigerian Universities .
“Attempts in the past to get the National Universities Commission to approve a two-year Master of Technology for HND holders in some polytechnics did not see the light of the day.
“Many times, HND Holders are forced to go for a one-year Postgraduate Diploma before they could be admitted into the Master’s Program in Universities.
” The disadvantage of the PGD is that holders who continue to do PhD and wish to migrate to a Nigerian University will always be queried to produce their first degree, even when they have doctorates.
” To end this unwarranted prejudice, NBTE has now created this progression pathway for HND holders. This can be accessed at https://topup.nbte.gov.ng.”
Abubakar who justified the action of the NBTE said that the absence of legal backing necessitated the board to find ways to enhance the standing of HND holders adding that , in reality, (they)HND holders hold the key to industrialisation and critical skills for delivery of needed infrastructure in Nigeria.
