ATAPOLY Secures NBTE Approval to Commence National Diploma in Artificial Intelligence

The Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAPOLY), Bauchi, has secured approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to commence a National Diploma (ND) programme in Artificial Intelligence (AI) beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The approval places ATAPOLY among the tertiary institutions in Nigeria authorised to offer the emerging and rapidly expanding Artificial Intelligence programme at National Diploma level.

In a letter signed by the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, and communicated to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Board formally notified JAMB of the approval granted to ATAPOLY and other institutions to commence the programme.

ATAPOLY Ranked First Among 41 Approved Institutions

According to the NBTE communication, ATAPOLY ranked first among 41 tertiary institutions approved to run the National Diploma in Artificial Intelligence programme.

The ranking highlights the Polytechnic's readiness and institutional capacity to deliver the specialised programme, particularly in areas considered essential for AI education and practical training.

The NBTE stated that the approval was based, among other considerations, on the availability of adequately trained lecturers and technologists, particularly personnel with expertise in programming, digital systems, Artificial Intelligence laboratories, microcontrollers, and AI project/capstone development.

These facilities and human-resource requirements are considered critical to ensuring that students receive not only theoretical knowledge but also practical exposure to the technologies and systems that underpin Artificial Intelligence.

The NBTE approval further indicates that 80 students under Stream A have been approved for the initial take-off of the programme at ATAPOLY.

This makes the institution one of the early beneficiaries of Nigeria's expanding effort to introduce Artificial Intelligence education into the country's technical and tertiary education system.

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, was listed second among the institutions approved to offer the programme.

Growing Focus on Artificial Intelligence Education

The approval comes at a time when Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming an important component of the global digital economy, with applications across education, healthcare, finance, agriculture, cybersecurity, manufacturing, business automation, software development and other sectors.

Artificial Intelligence refers broadly to technologies that enable computer systems and machines to perform tasks that traditionally require aspects of human intelligence, including learning from data, recognising patterns, understanding language, making predictions and supporting decision-making.

The introduction of an ND programme dedicated to AI is therefore expected to provide students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in areas such as programming, machine learning, data processing, intelligent systems, robotics, digital technologies and AI-driven applications.

A Milestone for ATAPOLY

The approval is also a significant milestone for ATAPOLY as the Polytechnic expands its academic offerings in response to emerging technological demands.

With the availability of trained personnel, specialised laboratories, digital systems, microcontroller facilities and practical project components cited by the NBTE as part of the basis for the approval, the institution is expected to provide students with a technology-oriented learning environment.

The programme's capstone or final project component will further give students an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during their studies to practical Artificial Intelligence and digital technology challenges.

The commencement of the programme in the 2026/2027 academic session is expected to position ATAPOLY as one of the institutions at the forefront of Nigeria's emerging AI education landscape, while providing prospective students in Bauchi and beyond with an opportunity to pursue formal training in one of the world's fastest-developing technological fields.

The approval ultimately represents another step towards strengthening Nigeria's technical manpower in Artificial Intelligence and preparing a new generation of graduates for an increasingly AI-driven digital economy.