The Federal Government has approved a sweeping reform of admission entry requirements for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more inclusive and flexible framework designed to widen access to higher education.
According to a statement from Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the move follows the approval of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
The new policy, spearheaded by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to democratize access to higher education while empowering Nigerian youths.
“The policy represents a major stride in promoting inclusivity and driving national development through equitable education opportunities,” the ministry noted.
Dr. Alausa said the reform was long overdue, citing years of restrictive admission policies that left thousands of qualified candidates without placement despite meeting academic expectations.
He revealed that out of the more than two million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, only about 700,000 secure admission — a shortfall he blamed on outdated entry rules rather than lack of merit.
“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 stated.
Under the new guidelines, admission criteria across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) have been modernized while maintaining academic standards.
- Universities: Minimum of five 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 now optional for Arts students.
- Polytechnics (ND level): Minimum of four credit passes, including English for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
- Polytechnics (HND level): Minimum of five credits, including English and Mathematics.
- Colleges of Education (NCE level): Minimum of four 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 credits, including English and Mathematics as applicable.
- Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs): To adopt the same requirements as Polytechnics for National Diploma (ND) programmes.
The government also announced the discontinuation of the National Innovation Diploma (NID) previously issued by IEAs, replacing it with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity across tertiary institutions.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to comply with the new standards, warning that any institution failing to meet full accreditation requirements will face de-accreditation.
Dr. Alausa estimated that the reform could enable 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 said.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment in line with President Tinubu’s agenda for national transformation.
What You Should Know
The new National Guidelines mark one of Nigeria’s most significant educational reforms in recent years.
By easing restrictive admission rules and harmonizing requirements across all tertiary institutions, the Federal Government aims to make higher education more accessible to millions of qualified youths, strengthening the nation’s drive for human capital development.
