Industrialising Nigeria: Federal Government Looks to Chinese Example and Condemns Split Between HND and BSc Holders
The Federal Government wants to learn from China’s industrial success to speed up Nigeria's industrialisation, and it believes technical education can help drive that change. It also wants to end the long-running discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.
These concerns came up in Abuja on 21 October 2026. Professor Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), spoke at a strategic session. The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) organised it, together with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO).
His message was simple:
Nigeria needs skilled workers, stronger industries and better links between research and production for industrialisation to succeed. It also needs to treat technical qualifications fairly.
Why Nigeria Is Looking to China
China's industrialisation has built a strong manufacturing economy over several decades. Its industries produce electronics, machinery, vehicles and many other goods. Technical schools also work closely with manufacturers. Students can gain practical experience while studying.
Nigeria wants to learn from this approach.
The country has raw materials, a large population and many young people seeking work. Yet local industries still face serious challenges. These include limited technical capacity, weak research-to-market links and dependence on imported goods.
A stronger industrial sector could change that picture. It could create jobs, improve local production and reduce import dependence. But Nigeria's industrialisation needs more than ambitious plans.
It needs people who can operate machines, maintain equipment and develop new products. That is where technical and vocational education becomes important.
Professor Bugaje urged Nigeria to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This system prepares people for practical jobs. It covers areas such as engineering, manufacturing, construction and technology.
China’s experience offers useful lessons. Nigeria must adapt them to local needs.
The HND and BSc Divide
Bugaje also criticised the unequal treatment of HND and university degree holders. He said the difference had discouraged technical students. It had also affected career progression in the civil service and private sector.
The problem has lasted for years.
Polytechnics train technicians, technologists and skilled artisans. Their programmes often emphasise practical work. Universities, meanwhile, place greater emphasis on academic study and research, although many also provide practical training.
Both systems have important roles. Nigeria needs graduates who can develop ideas. It also needs workers who can turn those ideas into products.
Yet HND holders have often faced disadvantages compared with university degree holders. This can discourage students from choosing polytechnic education. It can also weaken the supply of skilled workers.
That makes little economic sense.
Bugaje said legislative efforts were underway to address the disparity. He noted that a BTech Honours Bill had recently passed the Senate. The bill was expected to help change the situation if it became law.
However, passing a bill through the Senate is not the end of the process. The next steps matter. Any reform must lead to fair treatment in recruitment, promotion and professional development.
Employers should assess workers on relevant skills and competence. A qualification should not automatically determine a person’s worth.
Making Polytechnic Education More Practical
Bugaje called for manufacturers to play a greater role in polytechnic education. Companies, he said, should help review academic curricula. They should also support laboratories, workshops and practical training.
There is a clear reason for this.
Industrial technology changes quickly. A course designed years ago may no longer meet current workplace needs. Employers understand the skills their businesses require. Their input can help schools prepare students for real jobs, which is central to Nigeria's industrialisation.
The NBTE has set 90 per cent of the minimum academic standards for polytechnic programmes. Institutions have flexibility over the remaining 10 per cent. This allows them to adjust some course content to local industrial needs.
Bugaje also proposed industry advisory boards at faculty and school levels. These boards would bring educators and employers together. They could identify skills gaps and recommend changes to training.
The goal is straightforward: graduates who are ready for work.
SIWES Could Become a Longer Apprenticeship
Another proposal concerns the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). The scheme gives students workplace experience during their studies.
Bugaje wants it to become a more structured, long-term apprenticeship system. Students would spend more time learning on actual production lines. Experienced workers could guide them through practical tasks.
That could make a real difference.
Students would learn how equipment works in practice. They could also understand production processes, safety rules and workplace expectations. Employers would have a chance to identify promising future workers.
However, the scheme must offer proper training. Students should not be used only for routine tasks. Each placement needs supervision and clear learning objectives.
Businesses must also be willing to invest time and resources. Without their commitment, the proposal may achieve little.
Turning Research into Products
The meeting also focused on a familiar problem. Nigeria produces research, but too little of it reaches the marketplace.
Researchers may develop useful ideas. Manufacturers may need solutions to costly production problems. Yet both groups often work separately.
WAITRO Secretary-General Benjin Luo called for stronger institutions to connect them. Such organisations can help businesses explain their needs. They can then link those needs to researchers who can develop solutions.
This could make research more useful.
A university might develop a better production method. A local factory could test it and improve its operations. If the solution works, other businesses might adopt it.
That is how research can support jobs and economic growth.
RMRDC Director-General Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso also called for closer cooperation between industries and tertiary institutions. He said the gap between research and industrial use had limited the economic benefits of research spending.
RMRDC is working with WAITRO and Chinese innovation institutions to address this challenge. Ike-Muonso disclosed that the council had signed a quadripartite memorandum of understanding with three Chinese institutions:
- Shanghai Yangtze Delta Innovation Institute
- Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute
- Anhui Yangtze Delta Innovation Institute
The agreement operates under the National Innovation Centre par Excellence.
The partnership is expected to support joint research, technology transfer and capacity building. It could also help adapt technologies to Nigeria’s needs.
What Must Happen Next for Nigeria's Industrialisation?
Nigeria’s industrialisation will not happen through meetings alone. It requires sustained investment and practical action:
- Technical schools need modern equipment.
- Students need relevant workplace experience.
- Manufacturers must help shape training programmes.
- Research institutions need stronger links with businesses.
The HND/BSc divide also needs a lasting solution. Fairer treatment could encourage more young people to pursue technical careers. It could help industries find the workers they need.
China’s experience shows the value of connecting education with production. Nigeria can learn from that model. But success will depend on implementation.
The country already has people, resources and ideas. It must now connect them.
