The Federal Government has officially kicked off the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy across all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs), following the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023 signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, the new law allows FCOEs to simultaneously award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education—a landmark reform in Nigeria’s teacher training framework.
Speaking in Abuja, Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa called the rollout a “bold and progressive step” aimed at empowering institutions, improving teacher quality, and expanding access to higher education beyond traditional universities.
The Act enables all qualified FCOEs that meet National Universities Commission (NUC) standards to operate under the new mandate, regardless of their founding date.
Dr. Alausa stressed that this reform not only enhances the professional competence of teachers but also reduces the need for affiliations with universities, grants curriculum autonomy to colleges, and ensures that Nigeria’s education system keeps pace with modern demands.
“No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers,” he said, reaffirming government commitment to strengthening foundational education through better teacher training.
