Nigeria Scraps NTI's University Affiliations Nationwide

The Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria has cancelled all 2026 admissions into the National Certificate in Education and degree programmes at the National Teachers' Institute in Kaduna. This decision was made due to breaches of mission and accreditation requirements. The ministry's spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade, released a statement explaining the cancellation and directing the institution to stop all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements.

According to the ministry, the National Teachers' Institute will no longer process any admissions into full-time, part-time or Distance Learning Studies for NCE or Bachelor's degree programmes. The public has been advised not to apply, accept admission offers or make payments for such programmes. The ministry emphasized that no further admissions into the affected programmes are permitted, whether full-time, part-time or through Distance Learning Studies.

The violations that led to this decision include breaches of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued to the institute in September 2025. The guidelines require NCE admissions to meet the requirements of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and the accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education. The ministry stated that the National Universities Commission will inform the affected universities and ensure they comply with the order ending NTI's degree-awarding arrangements.

To protect students already in the system, the National Commission for Colleges of Education will fully accredit existing NCE II to IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones. Eligible students may finish their programmes, depending on the accreditation results and regulatory requirements. This measure aims to safeguard the academic progress of students currently enrolled in these programmes.

The National Teachers' Institute's legal mandate remains focused on teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development. This includes pedagogical capacity-building and the Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-Education degrees to acquire professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. The ministry clarified that these programmes are subject to applicable regulations.

The ministry urged the public to verify a programme's accreditation and admission status with the relevant regulators and official government channels before enrolling or paying. This intervention aims to protect students, uphold academic standards and prevent prospective applicants from being exposed to unapproved programmes. By taking this step, the ministry seeks to maintain the integrity of Nigeria's educational system.

The cancellation of NTI's university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements is a significant move to ensure that academic institutions operate within established guidelines and regulations. The ministry's actions demonstrate its commitment to maintaining high standards in education and preventing unauthorized institutions from offering substandard programmes. Key points include:

Key points

• The Federal Ministry of Education cancelled NTI's 2026 admissions into NCE and degree programmes due to breaches of mission and accreditation requirements.
• The National Teachers' Institute is no longer authorized to award NCE and university degrees.
• Existing students in NCE II to IV Distance Learning programmes may complete their studies after accreditation and regulatory compliance.