Accurate and objective analysis. Can't fault this at all.

mytym:

People often forget while comparing that B.Sc is the least degree a university awards because its the first level of research, there is M.Sc, M.Phil, D. Ph or Ph.D...-an undergrad may be paired with a MSc. or/and a Ph.D student to work on the same project or ressearch or design. While working on the same assignment, the expectation from the trio differs by the time they all submit their reports.
The undergrad is taught that, the facts and findings that are now acceptable for his bachelors may not be acceptable or sufficient for a higher level of research if he presents same hence he's already hardwired to display a "continuous knowledge orientation". Knowledge orientation in polytechnics is usually terminal and rigid.

For correctional or conversionary reasons, they created a bridge called PgDiploma which is NOT a degree but an avenue to be able to allow for willing people whose knowledge performance may be insufficient for the next level of research.

Initially, these set of people ARE degree holders who either possess a 3rd class of degree Or want to advance in a new field of research different from their kind of Bachelors but has SIMILAR knowledge backgrounds.

Subsequently, exceptional HND holders are since then also allowed to enrol for PgDiploma which is way greater than HND. (Direct Entry students with HND who are admitted into 300Level are actually indirectly doing PgD if they care to check the syllabus of their PgD folks which is still considered liberal relative to the undergrad coursework).

Like the OP rightly said university is basically for research.
A university system is like a cult system, a system of knowledge hierarchy which at first degree is considered basic and peripheral relative to deep knowledge & exposure. It is servantlike and why it is tagged 'Bachelors' but its still wider and deeper than a diploma.

In fact most university graduates ARE unaware that the most important university ritual is 'The Convocation'. It is the last academic activity required of an undergrad but the first step towards choosing a path of knowledge and research.

A uni graduate is never a degree holder until the convocation day. That is the reason why they MUST be 'present' physically at the convocation (yes you read that well) but for reality sake the Dean must stand PROXY for all those that are absent.
Then a very important line will be read please note the use of words "...these students having been found worthy both in Character and in Learning are hereby Admitted into the Degree of bla bla (depending on the course).

Until that day, the admission is considered provisional and every activity both moral and academic is considered to exist in Partial Fulfilment towards a Degree of knowledge. and it is the same reason why Prospective Masters Degree students, who had graduated from that same university, are exempted from Matriculation rituals because for these ones, their Bachelors degree convocation actually in the real sense, serves the dual purpose of Admission into the Degree of that knowledge area and simultaneously the initiation into a higher degree.

This academic ritual is the reason why disciplines such as Law, Medicine, Pharmacy and other branches of knowledge that require deep intellectual research and exposure will never be offered in polytechnics.

A polytechnic (Nigerian poly by intent, framework and purpose) awards its highest certificate -a Diploma! whether ordinary or national and is a middle-level man power knowledge and skill acquisition thingy.

However brilliant the holder is, especially as some have demonstrated in engineering fields, the system that produced them prepared them as staff/equipment managers.
A uni grad is supposed to be a line manager i.e the thinker and bearer of ALL responsibilities including the staff managers.

Most HND holders are quick to cite Engineering as their basis to equate University and polytechnic. They are not completely wrong, but what they fail to acknowledge is that Engineering combines research, theory, practicals with field exposure to problems and capacity to conceptualize a solution to a novel challenge by coming up with a design or templates.
While a university engineering grad is exposed to all of these to a greater degree more than his poly colleague who is supposedly "practical oriented", he is certanly inclined towards research more than other areas because it is the 'thinking' part of his discipline that makes him superior (not that he can't do or flex muscles more).

A nairalander says a uni engineering grad can only design...i guess if we leave rigorous analysis&design out of engineering then life will be a complete drab because every invention we use is borne out of painstaking reasearch, analysis, design and re-research hence there'll be nothing for the poly grad to operate or work with.

However, few brilliant chaps due to some reasons usually chief of which is ignorance or impatience are in Polytechnics. These few young and bright ones who find themselves in polytechnic in most cases eventually leave to continue in universities either here or abroad. This even butresses the OP points because even they, after spending a few years, know for a fact that there must be a superior kind of knowledge exposure elsewhere which they must pursue. They actually are the ones who can educate their poly mates.

DrFunmi also mentioned esteem and attitude.
The university environment is all encompassing and ensures that each person who genuinely crave Education of the mind will be exposed to advanced thinking and relational aptitudes in its entirety.

Polytechnic System provides rather a one sided or too shallow schooling environment.
A careful observation of comments on this thread already shows that the proponents of polytechnics being better than university, are NOT equiped enough with the other intangible skills such as engaging in an intellectual discourse or argument without going personal. It's the display of superficial education.

University system however poor, insufficient, limited or 'substandard' we may have judged it to be, CANNOT and should NOT be compared with a polytechnic system.
It is both a Capacity mismatch and a Purpose mismatch.

Quite true, however a lot of people especially HND holders won't agree to this.