Fellow Nigerians,

I have read with disappointment the continued struggle between Nigerian citizens about the superiority of one certificate over the other. The HND and Bachelor degree saga has been a long over-drawn issues and it should not be so. Since 1960 when Nigeria got her independence from Britain, Nigeria should have been able to fashion an education system that fits it citizens instead creating an unnecessary class struggle over certificates. In the first instance, I would think that most of our educational planners and managers lack focus. They do not know what should be good for us as citizens. They still think about Britain as a model forgeting that every thing Britain will may not be good for Nigerians. There is no problem having a HND. I have one too. But the problem is that our educational planners committed an error by thinking that an HND holder would be content with that certificate alone and not wanting to get a higher degree. They forgot the same candidate in the polytechnic is equally qualified to do a degree program in the university. They forgot that a choice to go to a polytechnic does not stem from lack of entry qualification but the desire for a well rounded professional training. They forgot that limiting any person whatsoever is a sin and against the law of human rights and equal opportunity.

In the 1980s, I was a union activist and we challenged COREN and other segregative professional bodies to set a a competitive exam for all HND and B.S holders for entry into these bodies. They did not welcome the idea. This is why I said that our leaders in education and politics are short sighted. Nigeria had remained where it is today because of this kind of attitude of limiting people with great potentials. We should emulate countries like America where no body is limited in anything whatsover. If you feel that you can challenge any exam whether your in college or not, you got an challenge it. This is why America is dynamic and leading in education, science, industry, and technology. Where is Britain today in comparism to U.S. If Nigeria continues to the British system, it willl be stagnant for ever. WE must forge ahead as a young and aspiring nation to develop a system of education in sync with our dreams and aspirations, and which will mirror our cultural believes.

Nigeria business and universities should stop to encourage all the discrimination in educational qualifications. With my HND, I never felt inferior to anybody. During my graduate program, I was in class with people from most prestigious universities in American and in the world elsewhere, I never felt behind in anything. In fact, my performance was exemplary. I got my admission direct and finished in a record time.

My advise is that, we should count on productivity and efficiency of every individual rather than the type of diploma or degree. Degrees and diplomas don't guarantee economic growth but productive efficiency, opportunity, and qualitative education at all levels. All branches of our educational institutions should harmonize all courses so that students can transfer from institution to another without loosing time or repeating courses.

HND and degrees are all good and there should be not need to discriminate against them.