All first generation polytechnics in Nigeria are matured enough to start awarding degree certificates indepen-dently without being moderated by universities, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Engr. (Dr.) Nuru Yakubu, has said.

Currently, Kaduna Polytechnic and some other technical and vocational institutions in the country award degrees, but are being moderated by some universities.

The first generation polytechnics in the country are those of Kaduna, Auchi and the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

Speaking against the backdrop of recent advocacy for an enabling law empowering polytechnics in the country to award degrees, Engr. Yakubu stated that all the three institutions have better learning facilities than many universities in the country.

The NBTE boss told Daily Trust in an exclusive interview that from his experience of working both in the university as well as the polytechnic, he knows as a fact that "there are a number of universities that take advantage of the facilities in some polytechnics, to the extent that they send their students to go and do practicals in the polytechnics.

Engr. Yakubu cited example with Kaduna Polytechnic which, he said, has been awarding Bachelors Degrees in Education with little moderation from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, since 1984.

He said all the resources - building, equipment and lectures - are being provided by the polytechnic, maintaining that "the only role that the university plays is to send external examiners to moderate examination question papers, and send a team of observers to monitor how the exam is been conducted."

The NBTE executive secretary argued, therefore, that to him, "this is more than adequate proof that there are polytechnics that can run and award their own (independent) degree programmes."

Engr. Yakubu, who spoke on a wide range of issues, lamented the apparent discrimination against polytechnic graduates when it comes to employment into government establishments.

As far as the executive secretary is concerned, university graduates have different roles to play from those of polytechnic graduates when it comes to working in industries, adding that they complement one another as designers and practical engineers.

He refuted allegations that the NBTE frustrates some institutions seeking accreditation for the programmes, arguing rather, that most of the institutions fail to meet the board's requirements for course accreditation.

(Details on interview Wednesday).