Skills Acquisition Now Mandatory for Polytechnic Students — NBTE
HND level students who have acquired NSQ at the ND level can enroll in Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) training as an alternative to another NSQ. The QAA certificate is expected to be valuable in the workplace, as many industries require on-the-job training.
Binye-lum 
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has introduced a Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) as a graduation requirement for all newly reviewed National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula. This initiative aligns with global trends emphasizing skill acquisition in polytechnic education.
Fatimah Abubakar, NBTE’s Head of Media, announced this development in a statement on Monday in Abuja. She explained that diploma holders would now graduate with a National Skills Qualification (NSQ) or its equivalent, in addition to their academic certification. This new requirement must be fulfilled before graduation.
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The NSQ is a certification system designed to assess and recognize individuals' skills and competencies in various fields. It focuses on vocational skills and is typically obtained through vocational training programs, apprenticeships, and assessments conducted by approved skill assessment bodies. Abubakar highlighted that the NSQ aims to bridge the gap between formal education and industry needs by providing practical skills relevant to the job market.
“The dual certification of obtaining both an NSQ and an ND in Nigeria offers several benefits, including a comprehensive skill set, increased employability, versatility, professional recognition, and career progression,” she said.
Abubakar further noted that this dual certification opens doors to career advancement opportunities and provides a strong foundation for upward mobility and career growth. However, due to limited skills training facilities in polytechnics, the NBTE will allow a phased introduction of the MSQ requirement.
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To ensure quality assurance, polytechnic administrators have been provided with guidelines for implementing the new provision. Assessors will evaluate the quality of education and training in various technical and vocational fields, assessing standards, learning outcomes, and the overall performance of Skills Development Centres (SDCs) in polytechnics and other Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
HND level students who have acquired NSQ at the ND level can enroll in Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) training as an alternative to another NSQ. The QAA certificate is expected to be valuable in the workplace, as many industries require on-the-job training.
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Abubakar also acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s technical manpower, including skill shortages, a mismatch between industry needs and training, and a lack of synergy between industry, government agencies, and TVET institutions.
