Table of Contents
HND Programs in AI, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering? In a bold step towards aligning Nigeria’s technical education with global tech trends, the Federal Government has introduced new Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Networking. This is on a bid to align Nigerian’s academic programs to global practice and better position the country to cope with the technological innovations.
This development was announced by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, during a recent chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to Prof. Bugaje, the new courses are part of the government’s efforts to equip young Nigerians with the digital skills they need to thrive in today’s tech-driven economy. He described the move as a key milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s vision to reposition Nigeria for the realities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
HND Programs in AI, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering
The introduction of these specialized HND programs marks a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to technical education. Rather than sticking to broad, traditional courses, the NBTE is now offering more focused training to meet global demands. These changes are being rolled out under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
“We have broken down the old HND structure into skill-specific areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and networking. These changes are already in motion,” said Prof. Bugaje.
Tech-Driven Governance and Accreditation
It’s not just the curriculum that’s evolving. The NBTE has also gone digital in how it oversees and accredits institutions.
A newly launched AI-powered digital accreditation platform now tracks academic standards in polytechnics, flags duplicated faculty listings across schools, and reduces manipulation during the accreditation process.
“If the same lecturer appears on multiple school websites, the AI will spot it. This helps us uphold integrity,” Bugaje explained.
With this system in place, technical schools are now required to upload data on their infrastructure, staff, and equipment to a centralized digital platform. Institutions in areas with poor internet connectivity will be assessed by certified vendors who submit reports for NBTE’s review.
The reforms are being guided by the Minimum National Academic Standards (MNAS), which outline requirements for each program covering everything from staff qualifications to lab facilities.
Prof. Bugaje stressed that adopting technology in education isn’t optional it’s necessary.
“If Nigeria wants to stay competitive and unlock economic growth, we must embed technology into our education system,” he said.
He pointed to Southeast Asia as a model for how strategic investment in digital education can drive national progress.
What This Means for Students and Institutions
- More career-relevant skills: Students will now graduate with highly demanded expertise.
- Reduced cost of accreditation: The shift to digital reduces physical visits and logistics costs.
- Enhanced transparency: The AI system helps prevent fraudulent claims and duplication.
This new direction by the FG represents more than a curriculum upgrade, it’s a complete overhaul of how technical education is delivered and monitored in Nigeria. With young people now able to study AI and cybersecurity at HND level, the future of tech innovation in Nigeria looks promising.
Kindly note that artificial intelligence skills and most of other careers like robotics, cybersecurity, data science and software engineering has been on the deficit while it is a global leading skills. what this means is that most Nigeria stuents can now start early to pursue this skills instead of waiting to enroll for it as postgraduate programs.
Check this rich career development contents
