Northern Pulse: NBTE, EHCON Unbundles Environmental, Public Health Training Into 14 HND Programmes

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE( and the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) have finalised 14 specialised Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula to boost Nigeria’s environmental and public health workforce.

The development followed the successful unbundling of environmental health and public health training in Nigeria, a reform stakeholders described as historic for the sector.

The milestone was achieved at the National Curriculum Final Critique Workshop held in Kaduna, which ran from March 29 to April 30, 2026.

The Director of Curriculum Development at NBTE, Dr O.O Bello, described the workshop as a major step toward strengthening the quality and responsiveness of technical education.

Bello said the curriculum, was designed to equip graduates with practical and globally relevant skills to tackle foodborne illnesses, environmental hazards and school health challenges.

He added that the critique process enabled stakeholders to refine the drafts, correct gaps and ensure alignment with national priorities and international standards.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, represented by Prof. Diyauddeen Hassan, emphasised the need to strengthen Nigeria’s preventive healthcare system through targeted training.

Bugaje noted that preventive medicine remained more cost-effective than curative care, particularly in countries with limited healthcare funding, and called for increased investment in specialised health training.

The 14 HND programmes include Food Safety and Hygiene, Industrial Hygiene and Safety, Housing Health and Sanitation, Environmental Health Surveillance, and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response.

Others are Health Impact Assessment, School Health, Global Health, Pest and Vector Management, Health Emergencies, Climate Change and Health, Waste and Wastewater Management, Environmental Health Laboratory, and Environmental Occupational Epidemiology.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of EHCON, Dr Yakubu Muhammad, said the collaboration marked a turning point in the evolution of environmental and public health training.

Muhammad explained that the unbundling process moved training from a generalised structure to specialised pathways, allowing professionals to focus on defined areas of competence.

He said the reform built on earlier restructuring at the National Diploma level, which introduced programmes in environmental health, public health, epidemiology and disease control, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

“To consolidate this, we have now developed 14 specialised HND programmes. This is history being made in the profession,” he said.

Muhammad added that the new structure would improve efficiency, enhance service delivery and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to public health challenges.

He noted that the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Tinubu, which promotes synergy among government agencies.

According to him, the collaboration had also transformed training into a skill-based and entrepreneurship-driven model, preparing graduates for both public and private sector opportunities.

“This is a rebranding of the profession. We are producing professionals who can create value and excel in their areas of specialisation,” he said.

Muhammad described the curriculum as a “living document” that would evolve with global standards and contribute to improved public health outcomes.

He commended Bugaje for his leadership and open-door policy, noting that the partnership between NBTE and EHCON was among the most productive the council had experienced.

Muhammad also disclosed plans for further collaboration to develop additional national skill certification programmes to deepen professional competence.

Stakeholders expressed confidence that the new curricula would stand the test of time and significantly enhance preventive healthcare and national development.