Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, the rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to address the long-standing dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree qualifications.
Speaking at the 44th Media Parliament of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he emphasized the need for polytechnic institutions to gain approval to independently offer degree, master’s, and doctoral programs.
“The dichotomy has placed priority on paper qualifications rather than productivity,” Mohammed stated, underscoring the misconception that university graduates are inherently more qualified than their polytechnic counterparts.
“Experience has shown that a student from a polytechnic is often more productive than one from a university.”
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He further noted that while many polytechnics boast PhD holders, the current system limits their ability to contribute academically at the highest levels.
Mohammed urged the NUC to permit institutions with the necessary capacity to operate as full-fledged universities without the need for affiliation.
Abdullateef Lanre Ahmed, the NUJ state chairman, supported Mohammed’s call, stating that the issue has become a pressing concern for many Nigerians.
“This situation yearns for a solution and has drawn the attention of policymakers and lawmakers,” he said, advocating for a deliberate government policy to rectify the imbalance.
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