The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of admission entry requirements into all tertiary institutions across Nigeria, increasing the average annual intake from about 700,000 to one million students.
According to the government, the new policy aims to expand access to higher education and create opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 admissions each year.
Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday. She said the reform, driven by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, represents a bold step in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda and promoting inclusive education for national development.
The minister explained that the reform became necessary after years of limited access, which left many qualified candidates unable to secure admission despite meeting required standards.
“Every year, over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yet only about 700,000 gain admission. This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but outdated and overly stringent entry requirements that must give way to fairness and opportunity,” he said.
“The reform is a deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education, creating opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students each year. It reflects our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed — putting the Renewed Hope Agenda into action.”
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards.
Under the new framework, universities will require a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings, with Mathematics mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
For polytechnics, candidates seeking admission at the National Diploma level must have a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes. At the Higher National Diploma level, a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, will be required.
Colleges of Education at the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) level will require at least four credit passes, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses. For Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) programmes, a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, will apply.
Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) are to adopt the same requirements as polytechnics for the National Diploma (ND) programme, as the National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been abolished. The National Industrial Diploma (NID) previously issued by IEAs will also be phased out and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity, credibility, and better progression opportunities for graduates.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is re-accrediting all IEAs nationwide to align with the new standards, warning that institutions that fail to comply will be de-accredited.
Alausa said harmonising admission guidelines will reduce the number of out-of-school youths, strengthen vocational and technical training, and align Nigeria’s tertiary education system with global and industry standards.
“The Federal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.