Polytechnic Students Warn Against Plans to Convert Institutions Into Universities

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has called on the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olushola Ladoja, to publicly oppose any move to convert polytechnics across Nigeria into universities.

Speaking on behalf of the association, NAPS President Eshiofune Oghayan warned that converting polytechnics would undermine their core purpose, delivering hands-on, technical, and industrial training essential for national development. He emphasized that turning these institutions into universities would shift their focus to theoretical education, weakening Nigeria’s capacity to produce skilled, job-ready graduates.

Instead of conversions, NAPS is advocating for the full implementation of the Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) upgrade, which would grant polytechnic graduates globally recognized degrees while preserving the practical approach of polytechnic education.

The association also proposed upgrading the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into a Polytechnic Education Commission to better oversee policy, funding, and graduate progression.

NAPS has vowed to resist any policy threatening the relevance and future of Nigeria’s polytechnic system.