The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved thirteen new degree programmes for Nigerian universities, marking a major step toward enhancing academic standards and aligning higher education in the country with emerging global trends.
In an official circular dated October 22, 2025, and signed by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, the Commission informed all Vice-Chancellors that the programmes have been incorporated into the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) framework.
According to the NUC, experts drawn from various institutions across the Nigerian University System collaborated in the development of these programmes earlier in the year. The Commission noted that the approvals demonstrate its ongoing commitment to strengthening quality assurance mechanisms, promoting academic relevance, and ensuring Nigerian graduates are equipped for modern professional demands.
The newly approved degree programmes are as follows:
- B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence
- B.Ed. Classical Christian Education
- B.Ed. Human Kinetics (Sport Management)
- B.Eng. Geomatics Engineering
- B.CH.S. Community Health Science
- B.Sc. Intelligence and Security Studies
- B.Sc. Islamic Economics and Finance
- B.Sc. Parasitology and Entomology
- B.Sc. Telecommunication Science
- B.Sc. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
- B.Sc. Cooperative Economics and Management
- B.Sc. Nuclear Science
- B.Eng. Nuclear Engineering
The NUC directed all universities to circulate the approved CCMAS documents to relevant faculties, departments, and academic planning units. It also mandated institutions to develop the required institutional-based components in line with the provisions of the CCMAS.
Universities wishing to include any of the newly approved programmes in their curriculum are expected to commence implementation from the 2026/2027 academic session, following a successful resource assessment visit by the Commission.
The approval is part of the NUC’s broader agenda to reform higher education, promote innovation, and ensure Nigerian universities produce graduates who meet both national and international standards.