The Federal Government has approved a sweeping reform of admission requirements
for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and
inclusive framework aimed at widening access to higher education.
This follows
the approval of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary
Institutions, according to a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press
and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry
explained that the policy, championed by Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji
Alausa, seeks to democratize access to tertiary education and empower Nigerian
youths, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “This policy
represents a significant step toward promoting inclusivity and driving national
development through equitable educational opportunities,” the statement said.
Dr. Alausa noted that the reform was necessary due to years of restrictive
admission rules, which had left many qualified candidates without placements
despite meeting academic standards. He highlighted that while over two million
candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
annually, only around 700,000 secure admission — a gap attributed to outdated
entry policies rather than lack of ability. “This imbalance must give way to
fairness and opportunity. Our goal is to ensure capable and deserving candidates
are not denied education because of obsolete policies,” he said.
The new
National Guidelines revise admission requirements across universities,
polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs),
while maintaining academic standards:
Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects,
including English Language, in no more than two sittings. Mathematics remains
compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses but is no longer
required for Arts students. Polytechnics (ND level): Minimum of four (4) credit
passes, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for
science-related programmes.
Polytechnics (HND level): Minimum of five (5) credit passes, including
English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes,
with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required
for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
Colleges of Education (B.Ed level): Minimum of five (5) credits,
including English Language and Mathematics, as appropriate for the course of
study.
Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs): To adopt the same requirements as
Polytechnics for National Diploma (ND) programmes.
The government also announced
the abolition of the National Innovation Diploma (NID) previously awarded by
IEAs, replacing it with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure consistency and
credibility across institutions.
The National Board for Technical Education
(NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to comply with the
new ND standards, with warnings that institutions failing to meet full
accreditation requirements risk de-accreditation. Dr. Alausa said the reform is
expected to create space for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain
admission each year. “Our young people are the heartbeat of this nation.
This
reform ensures every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and
succeed. We are equipping them with the education and skills needed to reach
their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he
stated. The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education,
human capital development, and youth empowerment, in line with President
Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
