“Nigeria’s Higher‑Education Crisis: 20 Federal Schools Struggle to Fill 1,000 Seats”

A Federal Ministry of Education analysis of the 2024/2025 academic session shows 20 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education admitted fewer than 1,000 students each—a stark illustration of capacity‑use imbalance in Nigeria’s booming tertiary system.

Low‑enrolment hotspots (by institution)
S/N Institution (Federal) Students Admitted
1 Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi 184
2 Federal Poly, Ohodo 65
3 Federal College of Education Technical, ISU 38
4 Federal Poly, N’yak Shendam 89
5 Federal Poly, Isuochi 118
6 Federal Poly, Mongunu 350
7 Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo 568
8 Federal College of Education, Asaba 276
9 Federal College of Education, Odugbo 317
10 Federal College of Education, Ilawe 397
11 Federal College of Education Technical, Ekiadolor 290
12 Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education 942
13 Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi 942
14 Federal Poly of Oil and Gas Bonny 704
15 Federal Poly, Wannune 956
16 Federal Poly, Ukana 455
17 Federal Poly, Kabo 713
18 Federal College of Education Technical, Umunze 416
19 Federal College of Education, Gidan-Madi 481
20 Federal College of Education, Iwo 592.

Ministerial response

• Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa warned in March 2025 that “we have universities with less than 1,000 undergraduate students” and urged the National Assembly to halt the proliferation of new institutions.
• From 2026 the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will deny support to any institution enrolling under 1,000 students, citing inefficient use of public resources.

Bigger picture

• Over 6 million candidates who sat JAMB’s UTME between 2020 and 2024 never got admission; only ~2.7 million of 8.9 million test‑takers were offered places.
• Even scores ≥300 sometimes miss slots due to wrong O‑Level combos, low post‑UTME marks, or catchment mismatches.

Why the gap?

• Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin notes candidate preference for “brand‑name” universities—students pick legacy schools like UI over newer campuses, leaving many newer federal institutions underpopulated.

The data underscores a paradox: massive demand for tertiary education versus under‑utilised federal campuses. This prompts policymakers to reconsider both funding formulas and the rush to create more schools.