By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of admission entry requirements for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and inclusive framework aimed at expanding access to higher education.
The development followed the approval of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, according to a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education.
The statement explained that the new policy, championed by the 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.
“The policy represents a major stride in promoting inclusivity and driving national development through equitable education opportunities,” the ministry stated.
Dr. Alausa said the reform became necessary after years of restrictive admission requirements that left many qualified candidates without placement despite meeting academic expectations.
According to him, while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 secure admission — a gap he attributed to outdated and rigid entry rules rather than a lack of academic ability.
“This imbalance must give way to fairness and opportunity. Our goal is to ensure that capable and deserving candidates are not denied education because of obsolete policies,” Dr. Alausa said.
The new National Guidelines update 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 not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses but is no longer compulsory for Arts students.
Polytechnics (ND level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
Polytechnics (HND level): Minimum of five (5) credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE level): Minimum of four (4) credits, with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
Colleges of Education (B.Ed level): Minimum of five (5) credits, including English Language and Mathematics, as applicable to 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 uniformity and credibility across institutions.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to align with the new ND standards, warning that institutions that fail to meet full accreditation requirements will face de-accreditation.
Dr. Alausa said the reform is expected to create room for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually.
“Our young people are the heartbeat of this nation. This reform ensures that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed. We are equipping them with the education and skills they need 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 the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
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