The act of prioritizing a university Degree over a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate by misinformed Nigerians is misleading and compromising.
The Nigerian society has a way of tagging polytechnic graduates as those without future ambition, however, experts explained that such views hold no bearing.
Wilfred Asuquo, a Business Operation Analyst at Hartford Healthcare told Grassroots.ng despite the demeaning views many had about polytechnic that HND certificate made all the difference.
Asuquo who currently resides and works in the US graduated with 3.30/4.0 CGPA from a Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti in Nigeria.
He proceeded in applying for an MSC program in the US without facing the hurdles of converting his HND to a degree certificate. “I got my MSC by just WES evaluation in the US,” Asuquo said.
He explained that he could not be deterred from achieving his goals irrespective of the discrimination between BSc and HND. “I was able to break boundaries with the HND certificate.
I’m sorry, I am a lion who never backed-off, and I have a word to anyone faced with such in any level of your pursuit. “Intensify your grit and never give up”.
With my HND certificate without PGD or prerequisites, I have broken boundaries from being a Cabin crew to being a trained Commercial Pilot then transitioned to being a Business and Data Analyst. According to Michael Bashorun, Program Manager, Community Resources for Justice, there is no limit to the aspiring and determined soul.
I am also HND Civil Engineering Yabatech 1990 and l are currently on my Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership Liberty University.
Getting MSc without PGD, how possible?
While many Nigerians struggle with getting admission in Nigerian universities after graduating from polytechnic heightens, Grassroots.ng gathered that it is not impossible to have a Masters Degree without going through the hassles of Post Graduate Diploma (PGD).
Many Nigerian universities offer direct MSc admission to HND graduates. All that is required is just a simple Google search and all information becomes available.
“I am Polytechnic product and also a Masters Degree holder from a reputable Nigerian University, even without doing any Post Graduate Diploma, said Adiele Chukwudi, Safety Inspector at Tiger Brands.
He said ever since I bagged my Masters, there has been more recognition and I see brighter days ahead.
He advised that Nigerians should believe themselves, set a target, pursue it and never give up. “You will definitely accomplish it.
”Reacting to this development, Hope Uwagboe, CFO at Dangote Fertilizer Limited, said HND or no HND, where ever anybody will get to in this life, the person must certainly get there.
“I have a boss that never had any professional and academic certificates, the highest qualification if I remember was RSA. He was Finance Director of an oil servicing company and later CEO controlling so many professionals including chartered accountants.
He is a successful man by all standard. If you are determined and hard work with God on your side, you will always break limit. I have my story too.
I finished from Yaba Tech and I have never been discriminated in all my working years. I believe if you are good on your job, certificates may be secondary,” he said.