Professor Idris Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has clarified that the board’s slogan, “Skills not Degrees,” aims to encourage Nigerian youths to prioritize acquiring skills over obtaining certificates.
Mr. Bugaje provided this clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that the necessity for clarification arose due to a public misinterpretation that the NBTE was discrediting university certificates in favor of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“The meaning of the NBTE slogan, “Skills not Degrees” is that Nigerians should place more emphasis on skills, as this is what the world demands,” Prof. Bugaje stated.
“In other words, even if you possess a skill without a degree, you can find a reputable job.
“However, if you hold a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) or any other type of degree without skills, you will struggle to progress professionally. No one will employ you. That’s the core message,” he emphasized.
The Executive Secretary urged young Nigerians to concentrate on skills training to obtain skill certifications, regardless of the type of degree or higher diploma they possess.
According to him, it is the acquisition of skills that will make Nigerian youths highly employable in international labor markets and make them more relevant to the needs of industries.
“That is essentially the message.”
The NBTE boss also advocated for a dual qualification system where universities award bachelor’s degrees simultaneously with National Skills Qualification degrees to promote skill-based employment for self-reliance.
He explained that universities should make their student industrial work experience programs more practical to enable students to acquire necessary skills for self-employment.
He also emphasized the need for polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education to offer skills programs in addition to conferring National Diploma, Nigeria Certificate of Education, and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications.
Failure to do so, he warned, would result in the future prospects of polytechnic and college of education graduates becoming bleak.
“A shift in focus towards skills and entrepreneurship has become inevitable, with skills serving as the global labor currency for 21st-century economies,” he asserted.
Regarding the HND to B.Sc. top-up program, Mr. Bugaje stated that the initiative was designed to facilitate the career and academic progression of HND holders.
On August 14, the NBTE announced a one-year top-up program, which can be applied through: https://topup.nbte.gov.ng, to convert HND certificates into bachelor’s degrees.
Mr. Bugaje noted that the program would alleviate the hardships faced by HND holders in Nigeria.
He pointed out that HND holders have been enduring difficulties for decades, and despite efforts to eliminate the distinction between HND and bachelor’s degrees, they have been unsuccessful.
According to him, HND represents the best products of the Polytechnic system, affirming the need for them to progress and pursue masters and doctoral degrees.
NAN
