The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), established in 1988, is one of Nigeria’s popular university located in the capital city of Nigeria, UNIABUJA offers vast undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Located in the nation’s capital, the university attracts students from different from all over the country.
Understanding the concept of catchment areas and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) and how it affects the admission process is crucial for prospective students seeking admission into UNIABUJA, as these factors can impact your chances of being admitted.
In this article, we will explain the UNIABUJA catchment area and how ELDS affect admissions. If you’re planning to apply to UNIABUJA, this guide will provide the information you need to maximize your chances of getting into the university.
What is Catchment Area?
Catchment area refers to specific geographical region or states that a university give preferential treatment during the process of admission. Nigerian universities, including UNIABUJA, use this system to ensure that students from different parts of the country have a fair chance of gaining admission into the school. Students from the university’s catchment area often have slight advantage, especially when the competition in a particular course is high.
UNIABUJA Catchment Area
For UNIABUJA, the catchment area comprises the states that are geographically close to the university. These states receive some form of preferential treatment, especially in competitive courses. The catchment areas for UNIABUJA include:
- Niger State
- Kogi State
- Nasarawa State
- Benue State
- Kwara State
- Plateau State
Being from one of these states might improve your chances of admission into the University of Abuja, especially if you meet the minimum admission requirements. This does not mean students from other states are won’t be considered for admission; they are still eligible for admission, but they may face stiffer competition and compared to applicants from the catchment area.
Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS)
In addition to the catchment areas, the concept of Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) plays a significant role in Nigeria’s university admission system. The ELDS policy was introduced to promote educational equity across the country by giving special consideration to students from states with historically lower access to quality education.
These states often have lower literacy rates and fewer educational facilities, so students from ELDS are given some level of advantage in the admission process. This helps in bridging the gap between educationally advantaged and less advantaged states in Nigeria.
UNIABUJA ELDS
The Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) that UNIABUJA considers include:
- Adamawa
- Bauchi
- Bayelsa
- Benue
- Borno
- Cross River
- Ebonyi
- Gombe
- Jigawa
- Kaduna
- Kano
- Katsina
- Kebbi
- Kogi
- Kwara
- Nasarawa
- Niger
- Plateau
- Rivers
- Sokoto
- Taraba
- Yobe
- Zamfara
Students from these states are given special consideration in the admission process, which could help improve their chances of being admitted to UNIABUJA, especially for competitive courses. This policy is intended to level the playing field and promote a diverse student population across Nigerian universities.
How Catchment Areas and ELDS Affect Admission
Both catchment areas and ELDS play important role in admission process particularly when it comes to highly competitive courses like Medicine, Law, and Engineering.
1. Catchment Area Advantage
- Students from UNIABUJA’s catchment areas may benefit from slightly lower cut-off marks during the admission process. For instance, while a course may have a general cut-off mark of 200 for applicants from non-catchment areas, students from the catchment areas may be considered with a slightly lower JAMB score like 180 to 190.
2. ELDS Advantage
- Students from ELDS may also receive special consideration. This might not necessarily lower the required cut-off marks, but it could increase the chances of gaining admission if the candidate meets the basic requirements. The ELDS policy ensures that students from these states are fairly represented, even if they face challenges in accessing quality education in their home states.
3. Performance Matters
- While being from a catchment area or ELDS can provide some advantage, it’s important to note that meeting the minimum admission requirements is still paramount. This includes having the required O’Level credits, good JAMB score and performing well in the Post-UTME screening.
Admission Requirements for UNIABUJA
To qualify for admission into UNIABUJA, candidates must meet the following requirements:
1. O’Level Requirements
- Candidates must have at least five (5) credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings from recognized O’Level examinations such as WAEC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB.
- The other three subjects should be relevant to the course of study.
2. JAMB UTME Score
- UNIABUJA minimum JAMB score of 180(cut-off mark), though some competitive courses may require higher scores (e.g., 200 or above). The exact cut-off marks vary depending on the course and year.
- Ensure your JAMB subject combination matches the course requirements to avoid disqualification.
3. Post-UTME Screening
- After passing the JAMB UTME, candidates must register for and participate in the Post-UTME screening conducted by UNIABUJA. This screening involves further evaluation based on your JAMB score, O’Level results, and performance in the screening test.
4. First Choice Institution
- UNIABUJA only considers candidates who select the university as their first choice during JAMB registration. If you listed UNIABUJA as a second or third choice, you would not be eligible for admission unless you change it to the first choice on the JAMB portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the catchment areas for UNIABUJA?
The catchment areas for UNIABUJA include Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara, and Plateau States.
2. Does UNIABUJA consider students from ELDS?
Yes, UNIABUJA offers special consideration to students from Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) as part of Nigeria’s effort to promote educational equity across all regions.
3. Does UNIABUJA accept second-choice candidates?
No, UNIABUJA does not accept second-choice candidates, we’ll discuss that in our next post, You must select UNIABUJA as your first choice to be eligible for admission.
4. Can students from non-catchment areas still gain admission to UNIABUJA?
Yes, students from non-catchment areas can still gain admission, but they might face stiffer competition, especially for highly sought-after courses.
5. What is the minimum JAMB cut-off mark for UNIABUJA?
The minimum JAMB cut-off mark for UNIABUJA is 180, but some competitive courses may require a higher score.
Conclusion
In summary, understanding the UNIABUJA catchment area and ELDS policy can significantly affect your chances of gaining admission. Being from a catchment area or an ELDS state can offer some advantage, but it is important you ensure you meet the minimum admission requirements and perform well in your Post-UTME screening.
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