The Federal Government has removed Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for university admission in non-science courses, following the approval of a sweeping reform of entry requirements across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The new policy, announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Education, seeks to democratise access to higher education and expand opportunities for qualified candidates long hindered by rigid admission rules.
In a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Ministry said the reform was championed by Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It aims to make tertiary education more inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the needs of Nigeria’s growing youth population.
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Dr Alausa said more than two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, yet only about 700,000 are admitted — a gap he blamed on outdated entry requirements rather than academic ability.
“The time has come to open the doors wider, without compromising quality,” the Minister stated. “This reform will ensure that every willing and qualified Nigerian youth has a fair chance to pursue tertiary education and fulfil their potential.”
Key Admission Changes Announced
Under the new policy, candidates seeking university admission will now require a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Mathematics will now only be compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science programmes, while it is no longer mandatory for Arts and Humanities courses.
For polytechnics, admission into the National Diploma (ND) programme now requires four credit passes, including English for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related ones. Entry into the Higher National Diploma (HND) level still requires five credits, including English and Mathematics.
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For colleges of education (NCE), at least four credit passes are required, with English compulsory for Arts and Social Science courses and Mathematics for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) candidates must still have five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Innovation Enterprise Academies to Adopt Polytechnic Standards
The government also harmonized the admission framework for Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) with that of polytechnics. The National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been abolished, while the National Industrial Diploma will be phased out and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and better recognition.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been instructed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide to meet the new ND standards. Any institution that fails to comply will face de-accreditation, the Ministry warned.
Expanding Access to Higher Education
According to Dr Alausa, the reform will enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission into tertiary institutions every year. He added that harmonizing entry requirements will reduce the number of out-of-school youths, strengthen vocational and technical education, and align Nigeria’s education system with international standards.
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“Harmonizing admission guidelines will help strengthen vocational and technical education and better align Nigeria’s tertiary education system with global and industry standards,” the Ministry said.
