FG Launches AI, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering HNDs in Push for Tech-Driven Workforce
In a decisive move to reposition Nigeria’s technical education system for the digital economy, the Federal Government has introduced specialised Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Networking, according to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The announcement, made by NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, marks a strategic shift from broad-based technical training to high-impact, specialised skills development, designed to prepare Nigerian youth for jobs in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“We have unbundled the traditional HND programmes into more specific skill areas,” Bugaje said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“This is already being implemented under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).”
Digital-First Education Meets Governance Reform
The reforms extend beyond academic curricula. In a notable governance shift, NBTE has deployed an AI-powered digital accreditation system to enhance transparency, efficiency, and integrity across Nigeria’s polytechnics and technical colleges.
“If a lecturer appears on multiple polytechnic websites, the AI system will flag it. This will help us maintain integrity in the accreditation process,” Bugaje explained.
Under the new framework, institutions are now mandated to upload detailed data on infrastructure, equipment, and faculty to a centralised accreditation platform—significantly reducing reliance on physical visits by NBTE officials.
This cost-effective and data-driven model, Bugaje noted, helps curb manipulation and aligns quality assurance mechanisms with global best practices in higher education oversight.
Inclusion and Adaptation: Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide
While the shift to digital oversight has raised concerns about infrastructure gaps in rural institutions, NBTE has created temporary offline alternatives using accredited vendors who collect and submit compliance data for evaluation.
This hybrid model ensures inclusive implementation of the reforms, particularly in underserved areas without reliable internet access.
“Even remote institutions can be part of the new system. We’ve built flexibility into the process,” Bugaje added.
Why This Matters: Technology as a Driver of GDP and Global Competitiveness
The initiative coincides with President Bola Tinubu’s two-year review in office, and it stands as a flagship component of his government’s strategy to diversify the economy through human capital development and digital innovation.
By embedding AI, cybersecurity, and software development into Nigeria’s formal education pipeline, the FG aims to mirror the model of Southeast Asian economies, where tech-enabled skills development has translated into rapid GDP growth.
Bugaje stressed that Nigeria must no longer treat technology as a peripheral tool but rather as a central driver of national productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.
“Nigeria has no choice but to embed technology in education and economic development.
This is how we unlock growth and prosperity in the digital age.”
BRANDECONOMY Insight
🎓 The unbundling of HND programmes into AI and emerging technologies is more than an education reform—it’s an economic imperative. Nigeria’s polytechnics are being retooled to produce not just job seekers, but digitally fluent problem-solvers. What matters now is execution, industry linkage, and scalability.
AT A GLANCE
- New HND Programmes: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Networking
- Policy Driver: Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
- Accreditation Reform: AI-powered digital platform for institutional oversight
- Strategic Goal: Human capital development for 4IR, GDP growth, and job creation
- Special Consideration: Offline evaluation model for rural and underserved polytechnics
Stay tuned to BRANDECONOMY for ongoing coverage of Nigeria’s tech policy evolution, talent pipeline development, and digital education breakthroughs.
