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.

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:

• West African Senior School Certificate from the WAEC
• Senior School Certificate from the NECO

Students can go to TVET institutions for secondary vocational education (and technical higher professional education). There are various types of TVET institutions. There are various types of TVET institutions, for example polytechnics and colleges of agriculture. TVET institutions need to be accredited by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

There are many types of study programmes in Nigerian secondary vocational education. The study programmes have different admission requirements, duration , content and transfer entitlement . You will need information about this in order to determine the level of a diploma. We describe the diplomas we often see on our webpage about Nigerian secondary vocational education. Below, we explain how you can check if study programmes are accredited.

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 HBO and WO . There are federal, state and private universities. Only universities are allowed to award degrees, such as bachelor’s and master’s degrees. They are allowed to award other diplomas as well, for example a Postgraduate diploma.

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.

TVET institutions

TVET institutions offer both technical higher educational and secondary vocational education. There are various types of TVET institutions, for example polytechnics and colleges of agriculture. Students cannot obtain degrees (such as bachelor's and master's degrees) from TVET institutions, only other types of diplomas. TVET institutions need to be accredited by the NBTE.

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.

In Nigeria, study programmes in higher education need to be accredited. There are different types of accreditation of study programmes:

• accreditation of bachelor’s programmes
• accreditation of master's and PhD programmes;
• accreditation of study programmes from TVET institutions;
• accreditation of teacher training programmes.