FG Approves New Admission Requirements for Nigerian Tertiary Institutions — Easier Access for Students

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 Big News for Nigerian Students!

The Federal Government has officially approved a major reform of admission requirements across all Nigerian tertiary institutions — and this change is about to make it easier for more students to gain admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, explained that the reform aims to expand access to higher education and modernize outdated policies that have restricted opportunities for many qualified candidates.

“Over two million candidates take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) every year, but only about 700,000 gain admission,” the Minister said. “It’s time to remove unnecessary barriers and open doors for more students.”

Here’s What’s Changing in the New Admission Guidelines

For Universities:

  • A minimum of five (5) credits in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.

  • Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.

For Polytechnics (OND Level):

  • A minimum of four (4) credits, including English Language for non-science programs and Mathematics for science-related courses.

For Polytechnics (HND Level):

  • Five (5) credits in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.


For Colleges of Education (NCE Level):

  • A minimum of four (4) credits in relevant subjects.

  • English Language is compulsory for Arts and Social Science students, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs.

For Colleges of Education (B.Ed Level):

  • Five (5) credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

For Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs):

  • IEAs will now use the same minimum requirements as Polytechnics for the National Diploma (ND) program.

  • The old National Industrial Diploma (NID) has been abolished and replaced with the ND — ensuring better uniformity, credibility, and career growth for graduates.

Reforms to Strengthen Nigeria’s Education System

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has started re-accrediting all IEAs nationwide to ensure they meet the new ND standards.

According to Dr. Alausa, harmonizing admission requirements will help:
✅ Reduce the number of out-of-school youths.
✅ Strengthen vocational and technical education.
✅ Align Nigeria’s tertiary system with global and industry standards.

Why This Reform Matters

This reform isn’t just a policy change — it’s a game-changer for Nigerian students. It gives millions of young people a fair chance to pursue higher education, regardless of background or location.

More importantly, it supports Nigeria’s vision of building a skilled, innovative, and globally competitive workforce.

So, if you’ve been dreaming of university or polytechnic admission, this might just be your moment! 

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