The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has ordered the immediate cancellation of all admissions into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, for the 2026 academic session.
The announcement was made on Saturday, November 7, 2026, via an official press statement issued in Abuja by Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education. ​According to the Ministry, the crackdown follows NTI’s failure to adhere to statutory standards and widespread violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025.
Clarifying that the Institute lacks the legal authorization to independently award NCE certificates or university bachelor’s degrees, the Federal Government directed the immediate termination of all degree-awarding partnerships and university affiliations operated by NTI.
Mrs. Boriowo emphasized that no further admissions into the affected programmes, whether full-time, part-time, or through Distance Learning Studies (DLS), are permitted, while strongly advising members of the public against applying, accepting admission offers, or making payments for such programmes for the 2026 academic session. ​
To ensure strict compliance across the education sector, the Federal Government issued immediate directives to key regulatory bodies. The National Universities Commission (NUC) has been instructed to notify all affiliated universities to halt their degree-awarding arrangements with NTI without delay.
Concurrently, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was reaffirmed as the sole regulatory gatekeeper for all NCE admissions, operating in conjunction with standard guidelines established by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). ​
Addressing widespread concerns regarding currently enrolled students, the Ministry clarified that students already pursuing their studies from NCE II through NCE IV distance-learning streams across the six geopolitical zones will not face automatic disqualification. Instead, the NCCE will conduct a comprehensive nationwide accreditation assessment of existing NTI study centers and distance-learning programs.
Eligible returning students will be permitted to complete their academic coursework, strictly subject to the outcomes of these upcoming accreditation reviews. In light of the regulatory action, the Ministry urged prospective applicants and parents to verify the accreditation status of all tertiary programmes through official government channels before making payments or taking up admissions.
