NCCE begins rollout of Dual Mandate Policy for Nigerian colleges

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has begun consultations with stakeholders in Northeast Nigeria to prepare for the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy. Scheduled to take effect in September 2026, the policy will allow qualified colleges to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

Dr. Angela Ajala, Executive Secretary of the NCCE, stated that the new framework aims to produce 200,000 skilled and digitally certified teachers annually. Under this system, students will graduate with three distinct qualifications: an NCE, a Bachelor’s degree, and a skills certificate. The inclusion of a skills component is intended to foster economic resilience and entrepreneurial abilities, ensuring graduates can remain productive even if they do not immediately secure teaching positions.

During a workshop in Gombe, Dr. Ajala emphasized that the commission is touring various geopolitical zones to identify regional challenges. Issues requiring government intervention will be escalated to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while development partners may be engaged to support the rollout.