The Federal Government has announced a major overhaul of admission requirements into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, aimed at expanding access to higher education and ensuring inclusivity.
Under the new policy, entry barriers into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will be eased, with mathematics no longer compulsory for students applying to certain arts and humanities programmes.
Dr. Alausa explained that the reform became necessary following years of limited access to tertiary education, which left many qualified candidates without admission. He noted that out of over two million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) yearly, only about 700,000 gain admission, a gap largely caused by rigid and outdated entry requirements.
The Minister added that the new framework would enable institutions to admit an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually, expanding opportunities for capable young Nigerians.
