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 across the country.
The new policy, approved under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, was announced in a statement on Monday by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the statement, the reform—championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa—seeks to democratise access to tertiary education and empower Nigerian youths by eliminating outdated and restrictive admission rules.
“The policy represents a major stride in promoting inclusivity and driving national development through equitable education opportunities,” the ministry stated.
Dr. Alausa explained that the reform became necessary after years of rigid entry requirements that excluded many qualified candidates despite their academic competence.
“Over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) every year, but only about 700,000 gain admission. 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,” he said.
Key Highlights of the New Admission Framework
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions apply to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs), while maintaining minimum academic standards.
- Universities:
- Five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings.
- Mathematics is no longer compulsory for Arts students, but remains mandatory for science, technology, and social science courses.
- Polytechnics (ND Level):
- Four (4) credits, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
- Polytechnics (HND Level):
- Five (5) credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
- Colleges of Education (NCE Level):
- 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):
- 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 ND programmes.
- The National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been abolished and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) for uniformity and credibility.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs to align with the new standards. Institutions failing to meet full accreditation requirements risk de-accreditation, the statement warned.
Dr. Alausa disclosed that the reform could allow 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,” he said.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment, aligning with President Tinubu’s broader vision to create equitable opportunities for all Nigerians.
