By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of admission entry requirements for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a flexible framework intended to significantly expand access to higher education.
The development, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, follows the approval of new national guidelines. The policy, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, seeks to democratize access and empower Nigerian youth, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Alausa stated that the reform was urgently needed to address years of restrictive admission requirements that left many qualified candidates unable to secure placements. The Minister highlighted the disparity: while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 secure admission due to what he described as “outdated and rigid entry rules.”
“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 asserted. He projected the reform is expected to create room for an ** additional 250,000 to 300,000 students** to gain admission annually.
Key Changes Across Institutions
The new national guidelines update admission requirements across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) while maintaining academic standards.
For Universities, the minimum requirement is now five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. Significantly, Mathematics remains compulsory only for science, technology, and social science courses, but is no longer compulsory for Arts students.
Polytechnics and IEAs operating at the National Diploma (ND) level must now require a minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language required for non-science programs and Mathematics for science-related programs. For the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, a minimum of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, is necessary.
Colleges of Education (NCE level) now require a minimum of four credits, with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs. The requirement rises to five credits for the B.Ed level, including English Language and Mathematics as applicable.
In a major move toward standardization, the government also announced the abolition of the National Innovation Diploma (NID), replacing it with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and credibility.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to align with the new ND standards. Dr. Alausa warned that any institution failing to meet the full accreditation requirements would face de-accreditation, underscoring the government’s commitment to quality.
“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,” the Minister concluded, reaffirming the Federal Government’s dedication to inclusive education and youth empowerment.