FG Approves Tiv and Nupe Degree Programmes as NUC Begins Curriculum Development

The Federal Government has commenced formal steps to establish Tiv and Nupe language degree programmes in Nigerian universities. The initiative is being coordinated by the National Universities Commission, which has already assembled a team of academic experts to design the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards for the two new programmes.

According to documents from a recent high-level meeting, the NUC appointed Professors Mary Adebayo and Rebecaa K. D. as lead consultants for the Tiv and Nupe curriculum development teams. The meeting, chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, marked the beginning of the structured process that will integrate these languages into the university system as new academic disciplines.

The Tiv curriculum development team includes Professors Muhammad Alkali and Musa Bawa, with Florence Onuoha and Chinenye Augustine representing the NUC. The Nupe team includes Professors John Akosu Adeiyongo and Nguton Sambe, supported by Commission representatives Kate Omotayo Onaiyekan and Hadiza Kalla. Their mandate is to create academic frameworks that meet national standards and support the preservation and study of indigenous languages.

The move comes shortly after the Federal Government reversed the 2022 National Language Policy. Under the new directive, English will now serve as the primary language of instruction from primary to tertiary levels. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy change during the 2025 Language in Education International Conference in Abuja.

Alausa explained that 15 years of data showed that mother-tongue instruction had not improved learning outcomes in public examinations. He said the decision was backed by evidence-based policy analysis aimed at improving global competitiveness, expanding access to digital knowledge, and strengthening Nigeria’s human capital.

The announcement has triggered strong debate across the education sector. Some stakeholders argue that the reversal was premature and that challenges such as inadequate teacher training, shortage of instructional materials, and limited textbooks should have been addressed first. Others support the policy shift, insisting that English proficiency is essential for students to thrive in a global economy driven by innovation, technology, and international communication.

The introduction of Tiv and Nupe degree programmes is viewed as a complementary step towards promoting Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding academic research in indigenous languages, even as the country adopts English as its primary instructional medium.