DR Maruf Olatunji Alausa

The Federal Government has begun implementing the Dual Mandate Policy that empowers Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs) to award both Nigeria Certificates in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

This follows the signing of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, into law by President Bola Tinubu. According to the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the policy marks a major shift in Nigeria’s teacher training framework.

Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa, while unveiling the initiative in Abuja, called it a transformative move to enhance teacher quality and expand access to higher education. He emphasised that any FCOE meeting National Universities Commission standards can now operate the dual mandate, eliminating the need for affiliations with universities for degree issuance.

The policy is expected to tackle declining enrolment, boost institutional relevance, and increase curriculum flexibility. “No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers,” Alausa said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to education reform.