The Federal Government has cancelled all 2026 admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), stopping the institution from enrolling students for its National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes over regulatory violations.
The government also ordered the Kaduna-based teacher-training institution to end its university affiliations and discontinue all degree-awarding arrangements.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision in a statement on Saturday through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the ministry, the institute does not have the necessary authorisation to award NCE certificates or university degrees.
The directive affects all admission categories, including full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies programmes. The government also warned prospective students and parents against applying or making payments for the affected courses.
The ministry said the decision followed the institute’s failure to comply with the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025.
It explained that NCE admissions must satisfy the requirements of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and meet accreditation standards established by the National Commission for Colleges of Education.
The National Universities Commission has also been directed to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the order ending the institute’s degree-awarding arrangements.
However, students already enrolled in existing NCE distance-learning programmes may be allowed to complete their studies.
The ministry said the NCCE would assess existing NCE II to IV programmes and study centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones to establish whether they meet the required standards.
It added that students in programmes that satisfy accreditation requirements would be permitted to graduate, subject to regulatory approval.
The government said the intervention was necessary to protect students from enrolling in unapproved academic programmes and losing money on qualifications that may not be recognised.
It clarified that the institute’s authorised responsibilities remain focused on teacher training, retraining, professional development and improving teaching standards.
These include a three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-education degrees to acquire the professional skills required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
The ministry urged prospective students and parents to confirm the accreditation status of institutions and academic programmes through relevant regulatory agencies before seeking admission or making payments.
