The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has cautioned all professional and examination bodies in Nigeria against the unlawful conduct and issuance of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Professor Idris Bugaje, through the Head of Media and Publicity, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar.
According to the statement, Bugaje expressed concern over the activities of certain professional and examination bodies that have been designing, conducting, and awarding ND and HND certificates in various fields without legal authority. He described such actions as illegal and a clear violation of the NBTE Act.
The Board emphasized that the NBTE remains the only body legally empowered under the Federal Government Decree No. 9 of 1977, as amended by Act No. 16 of 1985, to approve, accredit, and regulate all programmes leading to the award of ND and HND certificates in Nigeria.
It further clarified that only accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions—including polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, colleges of health, colleges of agriculture, and other specialised institutions that meet prescribed standards—are authorised to run ND and HND programmes.
The NBTE warned that it would not hesitate to take regulatory and legal action against any professional or examination body found engaging in such unlawful practices.
The Board also called on stakeholders and the general public to take note and ensure strict compliance with the established regulations governing technical education in the country.
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