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Nigeria’s education ministry has cancelled all admissions into National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) in Kaduna for the 2026 academic session over regulatory breaches.
The ministry also ordered the institute to end all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, saying it was not authorised to award NCE or university degrees.
The ministry, in a statement on Saturday, warned prospective students, parents and the public against applying for the affected programmes, accepting admission offers or making payments.
The directive covers full-time, part-time and distance-learning programmes, with no further admissions permitted.
The ministry said the action followed violations of its operational guidelines issued on Sept. 12, 2025.
The statement read in part, “The Federal Ministry of Education has warned prospective students, parents and the general public against seeking admission into unauthorised National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, following regulatory breaches involving admissions, accreditation and university affiliations.
“Consequently, all admissions into NTI’s NCE and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session have been cancelled, while the Institute has been directed to discontinue all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, as it is not authorised to award NCE and University degrees.
“The Ministry emphasises that no further admissions into the affected programmes, whether full-time, part-time or through Distance Learning Studies (DLS), are permitted. Members of the public are therefore strongly advised not to apply, accept admission offers or make payments for such programmes . The directive follows violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on 12 September 2025.”
It said NCE admissions must comply with requirements set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The National Universities Commission (NUC) was also directed to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the order.
However, the ministry said students already enrolled in NCE II–IV distance-learning programmes could be allowed to complete their studies, subject to accreditation results and regulatory requirements.
The NCCE will conduct an accreditation exercise covering existing programmes and study centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the statement said.
The ministry said the NTI’s statutory mandate remained teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.
It added that the institute could provide a three-to-six-month special programme for serving teachers with non-education degrees to acquire professional qualifications required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to regulations.
The ministry urged the public to verify the accreditation and admission status of programmes with relevant regulatory authorities before applying or making payments.
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
PRESS RELEASE
7/11/26
FME WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST UNAUTHORISED NTI ADMISSIONS, CANCELS 2026 NCE AND DEGREE INTAKE
The Federal Ministry of Education has warned prospective students, parents and the general public against seeking admission into unauthorised National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, following regulatory breaches involving admissions, accreditation and university affiliations.
Consequently, all admissions into NTI’s NCE and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session have been cancelled, while the Institute has been directed to discontinue all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, as it is not authorised to award NCE and University degrees.
The Ministry emphasises that no further admissions into the affected programmes, whether full-time, part-time or through Distance Learning Studies (DLS), are permitted. Members of the public are therefore strongly advised not to apply, accept admission offers or make payments for such programmes .
The directive follows violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on 12 September 2025. The Ministry clarifies that NCE admissions must comply with applicable Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements and accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). The National Universities Commission (NUC) is also to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the directive on NTI’s discontinued degree-awarding arrangements.
To protect innocent students already enrolled, the NCCE will conduct comprehensive accreditation of existing NCE II–IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones. Eligible students may complete their programmes, subject to accreditation outcomes and regulatory requirements.
The Ministry reiterates that NTI’s statutory mandate remains teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development. This includes pedagogical capacity-building and the three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-Education degrees to acquire the professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to applicable regulations.
The Ministry stresses that the intervention is intended to protect students, uphold academic standards and prevent further exposure of prospective applicants to unapproved programmes.
The Ministry therefore urges the public to verify programme accreditation and admission status through relevant regulatory authorities and official government channels before making enrolment or payment decisions.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations— Federal Ministry of Education (@NigEducation) November 7, 2026
