Announced at a National Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, the initiative was hailed as a “historic milestone” by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by Minister of State Suwaiba Said Ahmad.

Citing the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023, Ahmad stated, “For the first time, our Colleges of Education are legally empowered to run NCE and degree programmes concurrently in teacher education disciplines.” 

The reform leverages the institutions’ decades of expertise to expand academic offerings while maintaining their focus on producing skilled teachers.Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), described the reform as a game-changer, allowing colleges to utilize their manpower and infrastructure to award degrees directly. 

“This dual mandate will produce graduates with both NCE and B.Ed qualifications, ensuring a steady supply of qualified teachers,” he said.

Hon. Adamu Tanko, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, assured that degrees from these colleges will hold equal value to those from conventional universities. 

The Ministry of Education committed to providing policy support, technical assistance, and resources to ensure the reform’s success, promising a revitalized teacher education system and broader access for students.