The Federal Government has granted approval for Colleges of Education in Nigeria to independently award degree certificates, marking a significant departure from the previous arrangement that required affiliations with universities.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, August 19, during the National Summit on Education held in Abuja.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, described the move as a “historic milestone” in Nigeria’s educational development. He explained that the reform draws its legal backing from the Federal Colleges of Education Establishment Act No. 43 of 2023.
Under the new framework, Colleges of Education will now operate a dual mandate, offering both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and full-fledged degree programmes without oversight from any university.
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, welcomed the development, stressing that the reform would revitalise teacher education and expand access for aspiring educators.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, Hon. Adamu Tanko, assured stakeholders of the credibility of the degrees, noting that they would carry the same value as those issued by conventional universities across the country.
The Education Minister further pledged that government will provide policy direction, technical support, and adequate resources to ensure the smooth implementation and long-term success of the reform.
