Jubilation as FG Allows Colleges of Education To Run Degree Programmes, “First Time in Our History"
- The Federal Government said Colleges of Education can independently run both the National Certificate in Education
- A landmark reform allows Colleges of Education to run degree programmes without university affiliation.
- The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, shared more details about the landmark reform in Nigeria's education
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
FCT, Abuja - Colleges of Education can now independently run both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes without university affiliation.
This is because the Federal Government has formally launched the implementation phase of a landmark reform.
Source: Twitter
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as “a historic milestone in Nigeria’s educational development.”
Colleges of education can run degree programmes
Alausa, who the Minister of State, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, represented, stated this while speaking at the National Summit held in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
“For the first time in our history, our Colleges of Education have been legally empowered to run NCE and degree programmes concurrently in teacher education disciplines.”
As reported by Daily Trust, the minister cited the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023.
Amad further stated that:
“The dual-mandate system now grants them full legislative and operational authority to expand their academic offerings while preserving their core mission of producing highly skilled and professional teachers,”
According to the minister, the reform builds on decades of experience and competence demonstrated by the institutions.
Top 10 colleges of education that deserve attention
Recall that Legit.ng reported that a college of education is a teacher training institution or a professional training college for teachers. Nigeria has 152 educational institutions.
These institutions were established to train qualified candidates to become certified teachers and lecturers. If you intend to pursue a course in teaching, then these colleges of education in Nigeria will be ideal for you.
Pursuing a college or university degree is one of the best ways to equip yourself with the professional skills needed to launch your chosen career. You can also further your education to improve your chances of getting that job promotion you have been eyeing.
College vs university: What is the difference
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the debate about college vs university often comes into play whenever students complete their high school studies.
To shed light on the two, Prof. Simon Marginson, a Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oxford, provides insights into the difference between colleges and universities, helping students make informed decisions about their educational paths.
He said universities offer first and higher degrees, including postgraduate programmes, while colleges are for programmes beyond school that do not necessarily involve degrees. However, Professor Simon mentioned that this distinction can sometimes be blurred.
Source: Legit.ng
