FG Approves Degree Awarding Powers for Colleges of Education

The Federal Government has officially approved the implementation of a reform that empowers Colleges of Education across the country to independently run degree programmes alongside the National Certificate in Education (NCE), without the need for university affiliation.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented by the Minister of State, Suwaiba Ahmad, during a National Summit in Abuja.

Dr. Alausa described the move as a “historic milestone” in Nigeria’s teacher education sector, noting that it was made possible through the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023. The Act legally empowers Colleges of Education to concurrently offer NCE and degree programmes in teacher education disciplines.

“For the first time in our history, our Colleges of Education have been legally empowered to run NCE and degree programmes concurrently,” the minister said. “This reform builds on decades of competence demonstrated by these institutions and now gives them full authority to expand academic offerings while retaining their core mission of producing highly skilled teachers.”

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, also described the development as transformative. He explained that for decades, Colleges of Education relied on partnerships with universities to award degrees, but the new law gives them autonomy to do so directly.

“With this dual-mandate system, they can now produce graduates with both NCE and B.Ed qualifications, ensure a steady supply of qualified teachers, and retain experienced educators within the system,” Okwelle said.

Nigeria currently has 152 teacher-training institutions established to prepare candidates for professional teaching and lecturing roles. Education experts believe the reform will not only expand access for student-teachers but also revitalise the entire teacher education system.