Kwara Poly Rector Urges NUC to Approve Degree and PhD Programmes for Capable Institutions
The Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Dr. Abdul Mohammed, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to grant approval for degree, master’s, and PhD programmes to polytechnics that meet academic standards and demonstrate sufficient capacity.
Dr. Mohammed made this appeal during the 44th Media Parliament, organized by the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held in Ilorin. Themed “Bridging the Dichotomy Between Higher National Diploma and Degree Certificates,” the event provided a platform for discussing the longstanding divide between the two qualifications.
During his address, the rector highlighted the undue emphasis placed on paper qualifications over practical productivity, lamenting that this has created a bias against polytechnic graduates. According to him, polytechnic students often exhibit greater productivity than their university counterparts, yet are still disadvantaged due to the entrenched preference for university degrees.
“One of the consequences of this dichotomy is the limitation it places on the scope of knowledge polytechnic staff can impart,” Dr. Mohammed explained. “Despite the capacity of some polytechnics to offer degrees, the NUC has consistently turned down requests for accreditation because of the ‘polytechnic’ designation of these institutions.”
The rector revealed that Kwara Polytechnic’s founding law grants it the authority to offer degree programmes, yet this has been denied due to NUC regulations. He argued that capable polytechnics should be allowed to operate independently of university affiliations and offer higher degrees, including PhDs, to advance the country’s education sector.
“If polytechnics were allowed to run degree-equivalent courses, it would reduce the pressure on universities and provide students with alternative pathways to academic success,” Dr. Mohammed emphasized.
He further decried the challenges faced by polytechnic PhD holders, whose academic progress is often stifled by the NUC’s stringent policies. According to him, these setbacks hinder their research output and contributions to the academic community.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NUJ Kwara State, Abdullateef Ahmed, acknowledged the widespread concern over the HND-degree dichotomy. He stressed the need for deliberate government policies to resolve the issue for the benefit of society.
The NUJ Media Parliament, Ahmed added, continues to serve as a valuable platform for fostering public dialogue on critical national issues.
