The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced comprehensive reforms to admission requirements for tertiary institutions, increasing the annual intake from approximately 750,000 to 1 million students. The policy aims to provide opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students yearly, according to Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, leading the initiative, described it as a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote inclusive education and national development. He highlighted that the reform tackles the issue of limited access, where over 2 million UTME candidates compete annually, but only about 750,000 gain admission due to restrictive entry criteria. “This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but outdated requirements that must give way to fairness and opportunity,” Alausa stated.
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements balance academic standards with accessibility:
– Universities: Require a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in no more than two sittings, with Mathematics mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
– Polytechnics (National Diploma): Require four credit passes, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs.
– Higher National Diploma: Requires five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.
– Colleges of Education (NCE): Require four credit passes, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
– Bachelor of Education (B.Ed): Requires five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.
– Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs): Will adopt polytechnic ND requirements, with the National Innovation Diploma (NID) phased out in favor of the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and better progression opportunities.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is re-accrediting IEAs to align with these standards, with non-compliant institutions facing de-accreditation. Alausa emphasized that the harmonized guidelines will reduce the number of out-of-school youth, strengthen vocational training, and align Nigeria’s tertiary education with global and industry standards, fostering human capital development and youth empowerment.
