The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), is one of Nigeria’s oldest universities and it’s known for her commitment to academic excellence, groundbreaking research and quality of education. Established in 1960 by Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, UNN has played a very important role in training professionals who have contributed significantly in different fields both locally and globally.
With its main campus in Nsukka, Enugu State and annex campuses in Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla, UNN offers wide list of undergraduate courses and postgraduate programs.
In this article, MetroBlog will provide detailed information about UNN catchment areas and the concept of Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) and how these factors affect admissions into the university.
What is Catchment Area and how does it affect UNN Admission?
A catchment area refers to a geographical region or a collection of states from which a university gives preference to applicants seeking admission during the admission process. This policy applies to state and federal universities in Nigeria, it ensures that students from the host the host state and surrounding states have a fair opportunity for admission.
For the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), it’s catchment areas are states within sharing geographical proximity to the university.
Admission into federal universities like UNN is influenced by various factors which includes merit by academic performance, the quota system which is considered also as catchment area, universities are to reserve a certain percentage of admission slots for candidates from their catchment areas. Candidates from these states tend to have a slight advantage during the admission process compared to applicants from non-catchment states.
UNN Catchment Areas
The University of Nigeria, UNN catchment area has six official catchment states, all located in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria. These states are:
- Abia State
- Anambra State
- Bayelsa State
- Ebonyi State
- Enugu State
- Imo State
Being a federal university, UNN is committed to providing educational opportunities for students from all parts of Nigeria. However, if you’re from any of these six states, you might have an edge in the admission process if you meet the academic requirements.
What is ELDS in UNN Admission?
The term ELDS stands for Educationally Less Developed States. In Nigeria, some states are classified as having lower educational growth, typically based on factors like the number of tertiary institutions, number of university graduates, the educational performance of candidates, and overall access to quality education. To promote national unity and ensure equitable access to university education, Nigerian universities, including UNN, offer special considerations to applicants from these states.
Candidates from ELDS may benefit from slightly lower cut-off marks and have a better chance of gaining admission even if their scores are slightly lower than the merit cut-off.
List of Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) in UNN
Below are the ELDS states recognized by UNN:
- Adamawa
- Bauchi
- Bayelsa
- Benue
- Borno
- Cross River
- Ebonyi
- Gombe
- Jigawa
- Kaduna
- Kano
- Katsina
- Kebbi
- Kogi
- Kwara
- Nasarawa
- Niger
- Plateau
- Rivers
- Sokoto
- Taraba
- Yobe
- Zamfara
Applicants from these states are likely to enjoy more flexibility in admission requirements as the university is mandated to admit a certain percentage of students from these states.
How UNN Catchment Areas and ELDS Affect Admissions
The catchment area and ELDS policies impact the admission process in several ways:
- Lower Cut-Off Marks: Applicants from catchment areas and ELDS may be offered admission with lower cut-off marks than those from other states. This ensures fair representation and regional diversity.
- Higher Chances of Admission: If you are from a catchment area or an ELDS state, you are more likely to be considered for admission, even if your score is slightly below the university’s merit cut-off.
- Promoting National Unity: The ELDS policy encourages students from educationally disadvantaged regions to pursue higher education, which contributes to closing the gap in education across the country.
Despite these advantages, it’s important to note that academic merit remains a key factor in UNN’s admission process. While catchment areas and ELDS offer some flexibility and advantage. candidates are still required to meet minimum requirements and perform well in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the university’s Post-UTME screening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the cut-off mark for students from UNN’s catchment areas? The specific cut-off mark varies depending on the course and the overall performance of candidates each year. However, students from UNN’s catchment areas may enjoy slightly lower cut-off marks compared to those from non-catchment states.
2. Does UNN give special consideration to candidates from ELDS states? Yes, candidates from ELDS states benefit from lower cut-off marks and are given priority in the admission process to ensure equitable access to education.
3. If I am not from a catchment area or ELDS, can I still get admitted into UNN? Absolutely. UNN admits students from all parts of Nigeria and internationally. While catchment area and ELDS policies provide certain advantages, they do not exclude candidates from other regions from gaining admission provided they meet the admission requirements Performance in UTME and Post-UTME is still a key determinant.
4. Can candidates from catchment areas apply for any course? Yes, candidates from catchment areas can apply for any course offered by UNN. However, they must meet the minimum entry requirements for their chosen course of study.
5. Does UNN’s catchment area policy apply to postgraduate programs? No, the catchment area and ELDS policies primarily apply to undergraduate admissions. Postgraduate admissions are usually based on academic merit and the candidate’s previous qualifications.
Conclusion
Understanding catchment areas and ELDS policies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is important for prospective students seeking admission. If you are from one of UNN’s catchment states or an ELDS state, you may have a higher chance of gaining admission due to the special considerations provided under these policies.
At Metroblog, we remain committed to providing students with the right and necessary information to guide their academic journey. Whether you’re applying from a catchment area or not, remember that hard work and academic performance are still key to securing admission into UNN.
If you have any further questions or need clarification on any other topic, feel free to leave a comment below!
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