The House of Representatives is working on a bill to criminalize the dichotomy and discrimination between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders from polytechnics and Bachelor’s degree holders from universities, according to Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass.
Abbas stated this on Thursday during the 36th convocation ceremony of the Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Lagos.
Abbas was represented on the occasion by a member of the House from Lagos State, Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda. He was made a Fellow of the College.
“We know the importance of education and what the country would gain by promoting vocational and technical education. The country needs people with the skills needed to take it to a higher level. Those who are going to raise the nation’s profile technologically. In view of that, we are increasing funds to the sector.
“Also, we are taking steps by working on the necessary legal framework to criminalise the dichotomy between HND and BSc certificates. There should be equal opportunity for all,” he said.
Abbas urged the graduating students to go into the world and make a difference by taking advantage of the opportunities that come their way.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Remi Tinubu, who was also conferred a Fellow of the College, said her belief and support for education led her to start the New Era Foundation in Lagos State in those days.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by an aide, Hon. Wahab Alawiye King, announced a N50m Endowment Fund for the College.
“The Fund is to support female best-graduating students. We need to support education and we should support the education of the girl child and remove all the barriers on her path. Even when I was in the Senate, my focus was on how to make life better and easier for our young ones. They are our future,” she stated.
In the speech read on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the Visitor to the College by the Minister of State, Education, Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmed, he recalled the steps taken so far by his administration to propel education to the next level.
He listed the introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, and the conduct of NEEDS Assessment for tertiary institutions among others.
He advised the graduating students to be good ambassadors of their College.
In his welcome address, the Rector, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, said the 77-year-old College has made indelible marks in the education sector in the country.
He solicited support from well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to help replace some ageing facilities and build new ones on campus.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, lauded the management of the College for the achievements recorded so far since they came into office.
