The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to grant Nigerian polytechnics the mandate to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degrees. This, the student body insists, is the only way to permanently eliminate the longstanding and discriminatory HND-BSc dichotomy that continues to marginalize polytechnic graduates in the labour market.
In a comprehensive proposal released to the media, NAPS also championed the need for a National Student Insurance Scheme to protect Nigerian students against medical emergencies and accidents on campuses. The association further called for coordinated mental health campaigns and enhanced security infrastructure in higher institutions across the country, citing rising cases of depression and campus-related violence.
As part of a series of initiatives to appreciate recent efforts by the Federal Government towards revitalizing education, NAPS announced the declaration of June 12 as “Adupe Day” — a symbolic gesture of gratitude. The date will be commemorated with a One Million Student March nationwide to thank the government for increasing budgetary allocations to the education sector under the Tinubu administration.
According to NAPS President, the student movement is not only demanding equity and justice but also aligning itself with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu, which prioritizes skills, innovation, and youth development.
“We believe that polytechnic education holds a critical place in Nigeria’s technological advancement. Allowing polytechnics to award degrees will bridge inequality and bolster the employability of Nigerian students in both local and international markets,” the statement read.
As momentum builds for the June 12 march, NAPS reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful engagement with the government, while urging lawmakers to act swiftly in amending existing laws that limit the potential of polytechnic institutions.