According to a Federal announcement, starting in September 2025, educational institutions nationwide will start offering bachelor’s degrees in addition to the National Certificate in Education (NCE).
This was disclosed by Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, at a follow-up meeting in Abuja that focused on decisions from the previous biannual stakeholders’ conference.
Alausa clarified that following lengthy deliberations and committee recommendations, the dual mandate—which permits schools of education to award both NCE and bachelor’s degrees—was enacted into law in 2023.
The deployment was originally planned to start in the 2024–2025 school year, however it has since been formally postponed to start in September 2025.
The minister claims that by increasing enrollment and removing the long-standing call for conversion into universities, the new policy will revitalize the country’s educational institutions. Converting to university status is not necessary with this dual mandate. Implementation should be pushed by you, not the other way around. “Your survival is at stake,” Alausa remarked.
Alausa emphasized the value of innovation in education and urged teachers to adopt innovative teaching methods that meet the learning criteria of the twenty-first century. “Our teaching methods from thirty or fifty years ago are no longer applicable. Teaching strategies and education are changing. He said, “You need to start considering how to use technology in the classroom.”
He also stressed the urgency of addressing the educational challenges the country is facing. “We once had a strong educational system, and that’s what we are working hard to restore. All hands are on deck to achieve this,” Alausa stated.
Touching on broader goals, he emphasised the importance of tackling learning poverty and the rising number of out-of-school children. “We must tackle the high number of out-of-school children and reduce learning poverty across the country. As teachers, you are at the centre of driving this change, and you must also challenge yourselves,” he said.
The Minister further urged colleges of education to support the dual mandate reform, warning that resistance could threaten their relevance. “The government has secured the future of colleges of education. It is now up to you to sustain them. Failure to embrace this mandate could lead to extinction,” he warned.
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