The Federal Government has approved a significant reform of admission requirements across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and inclusive framework designed to expand access to higher education.
The new policy—outlined 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 at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Key Reform: Maths No Longer Mandatory for Arts Students
Under the revised guidelines, Mathematics is no longer a compulsory subject for admission into Arts and some Humanities programmes in Nigerian universities. However, it remains mandatory for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Social Science courses.
The reform applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs), and is aimed at promoting fairness, inclusivity, and access to higher education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister Alausa: “We’re Removing Obsolete Barriers”
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who championed the reform, said the policy was necessary to correct structural barriers that had for years denied admission to thousands of qualified candidates.
“This imbalance must give way to fairness and opportunity,” he said.
“Our goal is to ensure that capable and deserving candidates are not denied education because of obsolete policies.”
Dr. Alausa noted that although more than two million candidates take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, fewer than 700,000 secure admission — a disparity often caused by rigid and outdated entry criteria rather than academic deficiency.
Summary of New Entry Requirements
- Universities:
- Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in no more than two sittings.
- Mathematics is required only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses; not compulsory for Arts programmes.
- Polytechnics (ND Level):
- Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects.
- English Language is required for non-science courses, while Mathematics remains compulsory for science-related programmes.
The Ministry emphasised that the reform maintains academic standards while removing discriminatory or outdated barriers, aligning tertiary admissions with contemporary global practices.
