The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at the National Retreat/Workshop on the Effective Implementation of the Dual Mandate and Strategic Plan for Colleges of Education.
The event featured the unveiling of the new Dual Mandate Curriculum and the National Commission for Colleges of Education’s (NCCE) Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2031.
Ahmad said the success of the policy would depend not on the number of institutions offering degree programmes, but on their ability to maintain academic standards and comply with regulatory requirements.
“The success of this policy will not be measured by the number of Colleges that commence degree programmes alone,” she said, emphasising the need for quality, accountability, institutional preparedness and strict adherence to established standards.
She explained that colleges seeking to operate degree programmes must demonstrate that they have qualified academic staff, adequate teaching and learning facilities, effective quality assurance mechanisms and sound governance structures.
The minister urged institutional leaders to approach the Dual Mandate with a clear understanding of the additional responsibilities it entails, warning against viewing the policy solely as an opportunity to expand academic offerings.
The Dual Mandate allows eligible Colleges of Education to continue offering the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) while introducing approved bachelor’s degree programmes in education, subject to relevant regulatory requirements.
The policy is designed to expand access to higher education, strengthen teacher preparation and improve teaching and learning standards.
Speaking on the newly unveiled curriculum, Ahmad said it would provide minimum academic standards to guide the development and delivery of degree programmes under the policy.
She noted that the framework would cover programme development, teaching and student assessment, while ensuring that graduates acquire the subject knowledge, pedagogical competence and practical skills required for effective classroom teaching.
“The quality of the curriculum must ultimately be reflected in the competence, character and professional readiness of the teachers we produce,” the minister said.
Ahmad also stressed the importance of continuous professional development for lecturers, alongside adequate instructional materials, effective teaching supervision and the integration of relevant digital technologies into academic activities.
She urged provosts and academic managers to ensure that their institutions had the personnel and resources needed to deliver quality teacher education.
On the NCCE’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2031, the minister said the document should serve as a framework for strengthening regulation, institutional development, quality assurance and innovation across the Colleges of Education system.
She cautioned that the plan would only deliver meaningful results if institutions and relevant stakeholders committed themselves to effective implementation.
“A strategic plan achieves little if it remains on paper. Its success depends on disciplined implementation, adequate coordination, responsible leadership and sustained monitoring,” she said.
Ahmad further charged participants at the retreat to develop practical strategies for implementing the policy, establish clear institutional responsibilities and set realistic timelines for achieving agreed objectives.
She said the process should also produce measurable performance indicators to monitor progress and ensure accountability in the implementation of the Dual Mandate and the NCCE’s strategic plan.
