Minister pledges merit-driven, transparent tertiary admission system

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a merit-based, transparent and inclusive admission system into tertiary institutions nationwide.

Ahmad stated this on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB).

The event also featured the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit (NATAP-M) Awards.

She commended JAMB for sustaining the annual policy meeting, describing it as a strategic platform for strengthening transparency, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s admission process.

According to her, the policy meeting remains one of the most significant events in the nation’s education calendar.

She said it brings together key stakeholders to deliberate on admission guidelines, institutional capacities, quality assurance and equitable access to tertiary education.

“The meeting reflects our collective commitment to building an admission system that is merit-driven, inclusive, credible and responsive to national development goals.

“This policy meeting remains one of the most important events in our education calendar because it brings stakeholders together to discuss admission guidelines, school capacity and access to tertiary education,” she said.

Ahmad noted that expanding access to higher education must be balanced with maintaining standards, equity and integrity in the admission process.

She added that the ministry would continue to support reforms that promote transparency, efficiency and fairness while ensuring equal opportunities for Nigerian children to pursue tertiary education, regardless of gender, background or geographical location.

The minister stressed the importance of leveraging technology and innovation to eliminate admission irregularities and improve operational efficiency.

She also highlighted ongoing efforts by the ministry, in collaboration with regulatory bodies, to strengthen teacher education and empower colleges of education to award degree qualifications.

According to her, the initiative will improve teacher preparation and expand academic opportunities for students nationwide.

Ahmad further commended JAMB management and staff for reforms and technological innovations that had improved public confidence in the nation’s admission system.

She congratulated institutions and individuals recognised at the NATAP-M awards and urged them to sustain excellence and compliance with admission standards.

The minister also called on stakeholders to continue working together to build a tertiary education system that is globally competitive and accessible.

She said the system should produce graduates equipped with entrepreneurial skills, digital literacy and innovation capacity for national development.