The Federal Government has approved a major reform of admission entry requirements across tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and inclusive system designed to expand access to higher education.
According to a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the reform follows the approval of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
The statement noted that the policy, led by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aims 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 explained that the reform became necessary after years of restrictive admission criteria that left many qualified candidates without admission despite meeting academic standards.
He said that while over two million candidates write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, only about 700,000 are admitted, a gap he attributed to outdated and rigid entry requirements rather than a lack of competence.
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“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.
Under the new guidelines, admission requirements have been revised for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) while maintaining academic quality.
For universities, a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings is required. Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science programmes but will no longer be mandatory for Arts students.
At the polytechnic level (ND), candidates must have at least four credits in relevant subjects, including English for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related ones. For HND programmes, five credits are required, including English Language and Mathematics.
For colleges of education (NCE), applicants must obtain a minimum of four credits, with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes. Candidates for the B.Ed level need five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will now adopt the same entry standards as polytechnics for ND programmes.
The Federal Government also announced the discontinuation of the National Innovation Diploma (NID) previously awarded by IEAs, replacing it with the National Diploma (ND) to promote uniformity and credibility across institutions.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to meet the new standards. Institutions that fail to achieve full accreditation will face de-accreditation.
Dr. Alausa added that the reform is expected to create opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission every year.
“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 under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
