Educational institutions and study programmes
Nigerian educational institutions and study programmes
Below we explain what types of educational institutions and degree programs there are in Nigeria. We also explain how we check whether these are recognised or accredited. We check the recognition and accreditation to make sure that the quality is sufficient. We give the necessary information per educational sector.
Secondary education | diplomas
In secondary education, you should especially pay attention to whether a student has a recognised diploma. These are the recognised diplomas of upper secondary education:
Higher education | educational institutions
In Nigeria, institutions for higher education need to be accredited. There are different types of higher education institutions:
- universities
- affiliate institutions
- TVET institutions
- institutes for teacher training programmes (Colleges of Education, National Teachers’ Institute)
Universities
Universities offer both and . There are federal, state and private universities. Only universities are allowed to award degrees, such as bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. They are allowed to award other diplomas as well, for example a postgraduate diploma.
HBO
Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). HBO is more oriented towards professions in specific areas than WO, and has traditionally been offered at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).
WO
Research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). WO is oriented more towards theory and research than HBO, and has traditionally been offered at research universities (universiteiten).
Checking the accreditation of universities
On the website of the National Universities Commission (NUC), you can find an overview of accredited universities:
Affiliate institutions
Affiliate institutions are connected to a university. They offer education that is supervised by a university. Affiliate institutions offer both HBO and WO. The university issues the official degrees, not the affiliate institution. It is not allowed to do so.
Checking the accreditation of affiliate institutions
On the website of the NUC, you can find an overview of accredited affiliate institutions.
TVET institutions
TVET institutions offer both HBO in technical fields of study and secondary vocational education. In Nigeria, these types of education are both part of TVET. Polytechnics and colleges of agriculture are examples of TVET institutions. Students cannot obtain degrees from TVET institutions, only other types of diplomas.
Checking the accreditation of TVET institutions
On the website of the NBTE you can find an overview of all accredited TVET institutions:
Institutions for teacher training programmes
In Nigeria, there are educational institutions that offer only teacher training programmes: the Colleges of Education and the National Teachers’ Institute. Some universities also offer teacher training programmes.
Checking the accreditation of institutions for teacher training programmes
On the website of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), you can find an overview of accredited Colleges of Education. The National Teachers’ Institute is accredited as well.
Higher education | study programmes
In Nigeria, study programmes in higher education need to be accredited. There are different types of accreditation of study programmes:
- accreditation of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and PhDs;
- accreditation of study programmes from TVET institutions;
- accreditation of teacher training programmes.
Accreditation of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and PhDs
On the website of the NUC, you can find an overview of accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees and PhDs:
Accreditation of study programmes from TVET institutions
On the website of the NBTE you can find overviews of accredited study programmes from TVET institutions.
Accreditation of teacher training programmes
Teacher training programmes are accredited by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). There is no overview of accredited teacher training programmes on the TRCN website, but you can look up registered teachers in the TRCN's List of Registered Teachers. In Nigeria, registration is compulsory for people who want to work as a teacher.