The Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria has approved the termination of new admissions into the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Pharmaceutical or Pharmacy Technology program. This decision, announced by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education – NBTE, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, on August 28, 2025, is in line with global best practices on pharmaceutical manpower development.
The directive allows current students to complete their studies but prohibits any new enrolments in all institutions in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the National Diploma (ND) Pharmacy Technician program will continue as the approved sub-cadre qualification in Pharmacy profession. Consequently, the only approved cadre in Pharmacy Profession as already contained in the Scheme of Service of the Federal Government of Nigeria remains “Pharmacist” and “Pharmacy Technician”. This new policy reinforces the career path for Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria.
The Council of HND Holders for the Advancement of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria (COHAPEN) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students [NAPS] have also publicly supported the Federal Government’s decision to end the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Pharmaceutical/Pharmacy Technology. In a joint press conference on September 3, 2025, the groups praised the move as a crucial step towards safeguarding pharmaceutical training standards and ensuring the profession’s integrity.
