The Pathfinder
Wednesday April 22, 2026
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The Association of Provosts of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences of Nigeria (APROCHTENS) has congratulated Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje on his reappointment as Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The association also thanked President Tinubu for reappointing Professor Bugaje.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. Johnson Adebayo Ojo, and Secretary-General, Mallam Adamu Ahmadu, the Association described the renewal of Bugaje’s appointment as well-deserved and a reflection of his outstanding performance during his first five-year tenure, which began in March 2021.
According to the Association, the Federal Government’s decision was not unconnected with the remarkable reforms and achievements recorded under his leadership.
“We state categorically that NBTE has recorded tremendous progress in the Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences sector of TVET education in recent times,” the statement noted.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTED
APROCHTENS commended Bugaje for driving critical reforms, including:
Transition of colleges from purely professional training models to a blend of academic and technical education.
Introduction of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Health Technology and Nursing Sciences.
Upgrading of several health institutions to Polytechnic of Health status.
Introduction of modern, globally relevant courses such as Paramedics, Medical Store Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Public Health Technology.
Comprehensive curriculum updates aligned with global best practices.
The Association also noted Bugaje’s international recognition, including his nomination among the 100 most impactful education personalities in Africa by the Global Skills Hub, United Kingdom, and his honour at the 4th African Education Summit held in Accra, Ghana.
It further referenced a State House statement by Bayo Onanuga, which credited Bugaje with repositioning Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem and modernising over 100 curricula in line with global skills demands.
CALL FOR POLICY REVIEW
While congratulating the NBTE boss, the Association urged him to use his second term to address pressing concerns affecting Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences.
Specifically, APROCHTENS called for the exemption of these colleges from the seven-year moratorium imposed on TVET institutions, arguing that many of them had already been accredited by relevant professional bodies before the policy was introduced.
“The moratorium should not apply to our colleges as a total ban but as a structured migration from professional councils to NBTE accreditation,” the Association stated.
It warned that restricting accreditation for such institutions could lead to a shortage of qualified health professionals, encourage quackery, and worsen brain drain in the health sector.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Association expressed confidence that Bugaje’s second tenure would usher in further reforms and strengthen Nigeria’s TVET system, particularly in the health and medical education sector.
“We believe your second term will bring renewed innovation, growth, and breakthroughs,” the statement added.
APROCHTENS reiterated its support for the NBTE leadership and wished Bugaje a successful tenure.
“Once again, we congratulate you and wish you greater heights.”
Signed:
Mallam Adamu Ahmadu
Secretary-General
Dr. Johnson Adebayo Ojo
Chairman
FWAPCEH; FCBMETN; FHIS; FCILGPAN; fisn
Chairman
PRESS STATEMENT
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ON THE RENEWAL OF YOUR APPOINTMENT AS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF NBTE
We the entire members of the Association of Provosts of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences of Nigeria hereby express our sincere congratulations on the renewal of your appointment as graciously approved by His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The renewal of your appointment to occupy the exalted position of the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education for another term is no doubt, unconnected with your serial reforms, numerous
accomplishments and excellent performance of the NBTE during your first tenure of 5 years that commenced in March 2021. In fact the Federal
Government could not hide her positive feelings about your remarkable
achievements so far.
We’re proud to say categorically and unequivocally that the NBTE has
recorded some tremendous achievements in the Colleges of Health
Technology and Nursing Sciences sector of TVET education in Nigeria in the recent times. These include the migration of all the Colleges from scholastics dominated by regimental professional training to full combination of academic technology orientation with proficiency training to enhance the competency of our products with the awards of National Diploma/Higher National Diploma in Health Technology and Nursing Science programs. In your first tenure, there’s transformation of some of our Health and Medical Institutions to Polytechnic of Health status, introduction and onboarding of new
courses or programs in health and medical technology in line with global
employment demands and national policy on education. Courses like Paramedics, Medical Store Management, Artificial Intelligence, Public Health Technology etc.
were granted full NBTE ND and HND programs with updated Curricula.
We are quite aware that, you were nominated by the Global Skills Hub, United Kingdom as one of the most 100 impactful Education Personalities in Africa and the conferment of that honour on you took place in the 4th African Education Summit held between 19th – 21st March, 2026 at the University of Professional
Studies, Accra, Ghana.
In fact, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy did not mince words in the State House Press Release of April 1, 2026 whereby he credited some remarkable achievements to your 1st tenure as the Executive Secretary of NBTE which included the repositioning and strengthening of Nigeria’s TVET ecosystem, comprehensive curriculum modernization; and review of over 100 curricula in line with global skills demands, all in consonance
with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for education. No doubt, your second tenure will be another round of bright reforms and breakthroughs in Colleges of Health Technology & Nursing Sciences and TVET
education in Nigeria in general.
As an Association, we implore you to seize this opportunity of your second term to ensure that the duo of NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education shift ground on by exempting our Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences from the
7-year moratorium imposed on TVET institutions because our Colleges had earlier been approved and accredited by relevant professional Councils and Boards before imposition of moratorium. It’s supposed to be a policy of migration to NBTE
control and Accreditation of ND/HND programs instead of classifying them as new Institutions.
We advocate that for Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences, the 7- year moratorium should not be applicable to us as regime of total ban on
accreditation but as regime of migration from Professional Councils and Boards to NBTE. There is no country that can ban Institutions of Health from producing
health & medical professionals for upwards of 7 years that will not witness the proliferations of quacks, quackery practices, and collapse of health manpower system. It equally stands the skill of promotion of brain drain and imminence of epidemics and endemic parasitic diseases. Once again, we congratulate you. Greater heights!
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