The Federal Government has approved a landmark reform of admission entry requirements across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and inclusive framework that notably removes Mathematics as a compulsory subject for admission into Arts programmes.
The new policy, contained in the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, was announced in a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the statement, the reform—championed by Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa—aims to democratize access to higher education and empower Nigerian youths, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This reform represents a decisive shift toward inclusivity and national development through equitable educational opportunities,” the ministry said.
Dr. Alausa explained that the change became necessary after years of restrictive admission rules that left many qualified candidates without placement despite meeting academic expectations.
He observed that while more than two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, only about 700,000 gain admission—largely due to rigid and outdated entry requirements rather than academic inadequacy.
“This imbalance must give way to fairness and opportunity. We are ensuring that capable and deserving candidates are not denied education because of obsolete policies,” Dr. Alausa stated.
Under the new guidelines, entry requirements have been revised across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs)—while maintaining academic standards.
Key Highlights of the New Admission Policy:
- Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is now optional for Arts students, but remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
- Polytechnics (ND level): Minimum of four (4) credits in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
- Colleges of Education (NCE level): Minimum of four (4) credits, with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
- Colleges of Education (B.Ed level): Minimum of five (5) credits, including English and Mathematics, as applicable.
- Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs): To adopt the same requirements as Polytechnics for National Diploma (ND) programmes.
In a further adjustment, the government abolished the National Innovation Diploma (NID) previously awarded by IEAs, replacing it with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and credibility across tertiary institutions.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide in line with the new ND standards, warning that institutions failing to meet full accreditation requirements will face de-accreditation.
Dr. Alausa disclosed that the reform is projected to create opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually.
“Our young people are the heartbeat of this nation. With this reform, we are giving every Nigerian youth a fair chance to learn, grow, and thrive,” he said. “Education must be a ladder of opportunity, not a wall of exclusion.”
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment, emphasizing that the reform aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a more equitable and knowledge-driven Nigeria.