Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has announced that granting Colleges of Education the authority to run both the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programs will significantly strengthen teacher education in the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, made this known on Thursday at the National Summit on Education held in Abuja. He described the policy shift as a “historic milestone in Nigeria’s educational development.”
“For the first time in our history, our Colleges of Education have been legally empowered to run NCE and degree programs concurrently in teacher education disciplines,” Ahmad said, citing the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023.
According to her, the dual-mandate system grants colleges legislative and operational authority to expand their academic offerings while maintaining their core mission of producing highly skilled and professional teachers.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, also hailed the reform as “historic.” He explained that for decades, Colleges of Education relied on partnerships with universities to award degrees. With this new autonomy, colleges can now leverage their own manpower, infrastructure, and expertise.
“The dual mandate will enable the production of graduates with both NCE and B.Ed qualifications, ensure a steady supply of qualified teachers, and help retain skilled educators within the system,” Okwelle said.
Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, Hon. Adamu Tanko, assured stakeholders that degrees awarded by Colleges of Education will carry the same value and recognition as those awarded by conventional universities across the country.
The Federal Government believes the reform will revitalize teacher education and expand access for student-teachers nationwide.
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