₦airaland Forum

Sir: In a workshop in Nnewi, a young man with an HND in Mechanical Engineering is rebuilding a 40-ton generator that powers an entire estate. In a bank in Lagos, a BSc holder with no internship is being trained for three months to use Excel. Tell me, which one does Nigeria need more urgently? The answer reveals the lie we have lived with for 40 years: that a university degree is superior and an HND is second class

The federal government has started the right conversation by removing the dichotomy in some ministries. But policy on paper is not enough. We must do three things now. First, equal pay for equal work in public service. Second, fund polytechnics like we fund universities. Modern laboratories, not 1980s equipment. Third, let HND holders proceed directly to Master’s degree without the PGD toll gate. Let merit, not route, determine how far you go.

Nigeria’s future will not be built in senate chambers alone. It will be built in workshops, on construction sites, in tech hubs. That is HND territory. If we truly want Made in Nigeria to mean something, then we must stop punishing skill. Scrap the dichotomy. Pay for output. Respect the certificate that builds the country. Because the generator does not care what grade level you are. It only cares if you can fix it.

anonimi:
What of technical schools?
Don’t they also deserve the same respect

nonny1212:
Una Still Dey Reason This Talk in 2026?

Mynd44:
Technologists want to be equal to engineers so badly.

First off, what Bsc holder doesn't know how to use excel. The same excel university trained engineers have been using since 200 level on stupid assignments and 1 unit courses (SWEP) any one that doesn't know how excel works should be returned to his university

There is a reason University trained Engineers are not rebuilding 40-ton generators and it is because they are trained to assess the building's needs, design their power options and make sure the HND graduate does not just build anything.

Or in a company a makeshift(note I said makeshift) flywheel is needed and you want the guys in the workshop to just turn on the lathe machine, load the Teflon and start cutting without an engineer designing the wheel itself, giving the required measurements of troughs and teeth, clearance and width

This weird thinking that people with Bng don't know as much as those with HNDs is like saying you should skip architects and just give your building to builders directly. A house will be built but will the house collapse? Will it pass structural tests, will it be livable?

There is a reason there are cadres and an HND Graduate can up his level and get the required certifications too same way university trained engineers are encouraged to get technical knowhows.

Do I agree on the pay, people should be paid based on their work rate? Yes
Yes, Polytechnics should be better funded
As for the masters route, I don't even have a thought about it

Mynd44:
Technologists want to be equal to engineers so badly.

First off, what Bsc holder doesn't know how to use excel. The same excel university trained engineers have been using since 200 level on stupid assignments and 1 unit courses (SWEP) any one that doesn't know how excel works should be returned to his university

There is a reason University trained Engineers are not rebuilding 40-ton generators and it is because they are trained to assess the building's needs, design their power options and make sure the HND graduate does not just build anything.

Or in a company a makeshift(note I said makeshift) flywheel is needed and you want the guys in the workshop to just turn on the lathe machine, load the Teflon and start cutting without an engineer designing the wheel itself, giving the required measurements of troughs and teeth, clearance and width

This weird thinking that people with Bng don't know as much as those with HNDs is like saying you should skip architects and just give your building to builders directly. A house will be built but will the house collapse? Will it pass structural tests, will it be livable?

There is a reason there are cadres and an HND Graduate can up his level and get the required certifications too same way university trained engineers are encouraged to get technical knowhows.

Do I agree on the pay, people should be paid based on their work rate? Yes
Yes, Polytechnics should be better funded
As for the masters route, I don't even have a thought about it

Amotolongbo:
Let all their instructors and Lecturers also learn how to go for masters and PhD and do them, then publish to become professors before we start talking about giving them equal respect

Mynd44:
Technologists want to be equal to engineers so badly.

First off, what Bsc holder doesn't know how to use excel. The same excel university trained engineers have been using since 200 level on stupid assignments and 1 unit courses (SWEP) any one that doesn't know how excel works should be returned to his university

There is a reason University trained Engineers are not rebuilding 40-ton generators and it is because they are trained to assess the building's needs, design their power options and make sure the HND graduate does not just build anything.

Or in a company, a makeshift(note I said makeshift) flywheel is needed and you want the guys in the workshop to just turn on the lathe machine, load the Teflon and start cutting without an engineer designing the wheel itself, giving the required measurements of troughs and teeth, clearance and width

This weird thinking that people with Bng don't know as much as those with HNDs is like saying you should skip architects and just give your building to builders directly. A house will be built but will the house collapse? Will it pass structural tests, will it be livable?

There is a reason there are cadres and an HND Graduate can up his level and get the required certifications too same way university trained engineers are encouraged to get technical knowhows.

Do I agree on the pay, people should be paid based on their work rate? Yes
Yes, Polytechnics should be better funded
As for the masters route, I don't even have a thought about it

anonimi:
What of technical schools?
Don’t they also deserve the same respect

jimoholuyemi3:
Thanks for that observation most of our polytechnic Lecturers that we're employed years ago with BSc how many of them have upgraded themselves to the level of MSC not to mention PhD many do not even bother themselves they remain comfortable
Only for some to wake up early this year when this new education minister said those with BSc in academic in polytechnic should not be assigned with project students or rather be dropped to administrative level that's when some that has been lecturing since year of mungo Park now wake up to go for MSc and yet we want the polytechnic to measure up to university level and proceed directly for MSc dey play

Cmeo:
https://thenationonlineng.net/hnd-deserves-equal-respect/amp/

PDPdestroyer:
Why are you always sad, young man? You radiate too much negativity, kindly seek help before it’s too late