RENEWED HOPE IN ACTION: FG REFORMS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO OPEN DOORS FOR MORE NIGERIAN STUDENTS

-


 By John Ollor Obe 

In a bold move that signals a new dawn for Nigerian education, the Federal Government has unveiled sweeping reforms to simplify admission requirements into tertiary institutions across the country. The decision, championed by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, breathes life into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, promising greater inclusion and access for millions of young Nigerians.




For years, the story has been the same — over two million candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, and only about 700,000 securing admission. The rest are left stranded, not because they lack the capacity to learn, but because the system was too rigid, too narrow, too outdated to accommodate their dreams.

Now, that tide is turning.

“This imbalance is not due to a lack of ability,” Dr. Alausa explained. “It is the result of outdated and overly stringent entry requirements. We are changing that to give every Nigerian youth a fair chance to learn and succeed.”

Under the new policy, the Federal Ministry of Education has approved a revised National Guideline for Entry Requirements into Nigerian tertiary institutions—covering universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs). The reform does not lower standards; instead, it clears away unnecessary barriers that have stifled access to education for years.

A Simpler Path to the Classroom

Under the new framework:

  • Universities will now require a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
  • Polytechnics will admit candidates with four credit passes at the National Diploma (ND) level and five at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, with English and Mathematics as applicable.
  • Colleges of Education will maintain four credits for NCE programs and five for B.Ed programs, with tailored subject requirements depending on the field of study.
  • Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will now adopt the same requirements as polytechnics, as the National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been officially abolished and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and upward mobility for graduates.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has already begun re-accrediting Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide to meet the new ND standard. Institutions unable to comply will lose accreditation.

More Seats, More Dreams

The reform is projected to open doors for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students every year. That means more young people from every corner of the country—children of farmers, traders, artisans, and civil servants—will now have a genuine shot at tertiary education.

Dr. Alausa emphasized that this reform represents more than policy; it is a moral commitment to equity and opportunity.

“Harmonizing admission guidelines will reduce the number of out-of-school youths, strengthen vocational and technical education, and align our tertiary education with global and industry standards,” he said.

A New Chapter for the Renewed Hope Agenda

Beyond the numbers, this reform embodies the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—a vision that sees education as the foundation for national rebirth. It recognizes that no nation rises above the quality of its human capital, and that every Nigerian child deserves a fair chance to rise through learning and skill.

For the government, this is about translating hope into action—building a system where opportunity is not the privilege of a few, but the right of all.

As the new policy takes effect, the message is clear: the classroom doors of Nigeria are swinging open wider than ever before.

John Ollor Obe

(c) Prime Heritage Magazine 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

OGALE STAKEHOLDERS RECEIVE LEGAL BRIEFING ON LANDMARK COURT RULING IN SHELL POLLUTION CASE

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala. Ogale, Eleme – July 11, 2025 The Royal Court at Obarijima Palace, Ogale, was the venue of a momentous stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, July 11, 2025, as members of the Ogale community gathered to receive a comprehensive legal update on their long-standing environmental lawsuit against oil giant Shell. The briefing was delivered by Mr. Anthony Hayward of Leigh Day, the UK-based law firm representing both Ogale and Bille communities in the case currently before the High Court in London. Presiding over the gathering was His Royal Highness, King Godwin Maduabushi Bebe Okpabi Paramount Ruler of Ogale and Oneh-eh Nchia X. The meeting drew a cross-section of the community: traditional chiefs, women leaders, youth representatives, legal observers, and members of the diaspora, all unified by a deep concern over the environmental devastation that has plagued Ogale for decades. A Legal Turning Point for Ogale and Bille Mr. Hayward’s update focused on the preliminary ...
Read more

Prof. Ndowa Lale Leads Peace Drive to Reunite MOSOP: Ogoni Chiefs Council Charts New Course for Unity

-
Image
By John Ollor Obe. In a pivotal move to resolve the longstanding leadership crisis within the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers has inaugurated a high-powered Peace Reconciliation Committee—placing Professor Sunday Ndowa E. Lale, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, at the helm of efforts to reunite the fractured movement. The committee was officially inaugurated on July 15, 2025, under the guidance of HRM (Sir) King Samuel L. A. Nnee JP, AmbP, FIIM, ACArb, D.min, the Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom and Convener of the Supreme Council. With the blessing of the court, the Council has sought to mediate and harmonize leadership disputes that have plagued MOSOP for years. Prof. Lale, a renowned academic and community leader from Eleme, was appointed Chairman of the reconciliation body—tasked with the monumental responsibility of restoring peace and cohesion to MOSOP, which for decades has been the global vo...
Read more

FROM SETBACK TO STARDOM: THE RELENTLESS JOURNEY OF SHARON EJII OBEY TO THE BAR

-
Image
By Nwafor Oji Awala | In an inspiring tale of grit, grace, and unshakable faith, Sharon Ejii Obey has emerged not only as a Barrister but as a shining symbol of relentless determination, proving that setbacks are setups for divine comebacks. The journey began in 2015 when Sharon, a young woman full of dreams and ambition, gained admission to study Law at North America University. Her passion for the legal profession burned bright — until an unexpected storm struck. By her fourth year, Sharon discovered that her university’s Law degree was not recognized by the Nigerian Law School. Devastated but not defeated, she left with only her transcript, facing an uncertain future. "I told myself I will never be a school dropout," Sharon recalls. With this personal vow, she returned to Nigeria and knocked on the doors of several universities, seeking admission to continue from where she had stopped. But almost all required her to start afresh — from 100 level. That painful reality, ...
Read more