Introduction

The catchment area policy is a significant aspect of the admission process in Nigerian higher education institutions. This policy is designed to ensure that students from certain regions, known as the "catchment areas," are given preference during the admissions process. This page outlines the key aspects of the catchment area policy, how it affects admissions, and what prospective students need to know.

What is a Catchment Area?

A catchment area refers to specific states or regions that are geographically or historically connected to a particular university. For federal universities, these areas are predetermined and play a crucial role in the admissions process.

Purpose of the Catchment Area Policy

• Promote regional inclusivity by giving students from specific regions better access to higher education.
• Ensure a fair distribution of educational opportunities across different parts of the country.
• Encourage educational development within regions that are traditionally underserved.

How the Catchment Area Policy Affects Admissions

During the admission process, universities may:

• Lower the cut-off marks for candidates from the catchment area, making it easier for them to gain admission.
• Reserve a certain percentage of admissions for students from the catchment area, in line with the federal or state quota system.

Catchment Areas for Federal Universities

Each federal university in Nigeria has a designated catchment area. These areas are usually composed of states that are geographically close to the university. For example:

• University of Lagos (UNILAG): Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun.
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU): Bauchi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe.

Check the list of catchment areas to see Federal Universities associated with each state.
Alternatively, visit individual Federal Universities pages to view their specific catchment areas.

Catchment Areas for State Universities

State universities typically consider the entire state where the university is located as the catchment area. This means that indigenes of the state are often given priority during admissions.

Catchment Areas for Private Universities

Private universities in Nigeria do not typically follow the catchment area policy. Unlike federal and state universities, private institutions admit students based solely on merit without giving preference to candidates from any specific region or state. Admission criteria for private universities are usually uniform across all candidates, regardless of their geographical location.

Catchment Areas for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education

Polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria also apply the catchment area policy similar to federal and state universities. While there isn't a widely published list of specific catchment areas for each polytechnic or college of education, the general principle is that these institutions give preference to candidates from neighboring states or regions.

What You Need to Know:

• General Principle: Most polytechnics and colleges of education give admission priority to students from states within their geographical region.
• No Formal List: Unlike federal universities, there's no formal, widely available list of catchment areas for polytechnics and colleges of education.
• Check with Institutions: Prospective students are advised to check directly with their chosen institution for specific catchment area details.

Admission Categories

The catchment area policy works in tandem with the following admission categories:

• Merit: A percentage of admissions is based purely on merit, without consideration of the candidate's state of origin.
• Catchment Area: A significant percentage of admissions is reserved for candidates from the catchment area.
• Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS): Some slots are reserved for candidates from states identified as educationally less developed, to promote equal educational opportunities.

How to Determine Your Catchment Area

Prospective students can determine if they are within a university's catchment area by:

• Checking the list of designated states for each federal university.
• Understanding the policies of state universities regarding their admission preferences.