The available spaces in Nigerian institutions cannot absorb all students writing JAMB/UTME examinations in each year even if they all pass. According to the Minister of Education, “The major challenge is a country like Nigeria having 1.7 million sitting for examination. The space we have is 520,000 for federal, states, private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.”Source: Punch, April 28, 2013. The purpose of this write up is not to appraise the UTME but to let students know that they have other credible alternatives (though these may be unpopular or unconventional) to obtain higher qualifications. Some of these are considered briefly below.

•Foreign Institutions
These will readily give admission to students from all over the world but the costs are prohibitive. For instance, average undergraduate UK course fees per year is about £12,000 (~N2.94m; £1 = N245)

•Part-time Study
A lot of these stop midway because they are not accredited by relevant bodies e.g. NUC, NBTE, etc. Also, these are not accepted by the NYSC.

•Scholarships
Scholarships and grants do exist but they are too few. A lot of time, beneficiaries of government scholarships do not get the funds regularly/on time.

•Approved Open and Distance Learning
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) offers various courses to students which are approved by the NUC and also acceptable for the purpose of the National Youth Service Scheme. The only challenge with this is that most students lack the discipline to study independently.

However, some organisations are providing innovative solutions to willing students. An example is the Dual Qualification Program offered by GGA Professional Partners (see http://www.ggacollege.org/contact-us/information-request-form/) to its students who are willing to combine a BSc program with NOUN with their regular professional studies. The firm integrates the syllabi of ICAN with that of the BSc in Accounting or BSc Entrepreneurial & Business Management of NOUN as the student desires. This enables students acquire a professional qualification (ICAN) in addition to a degree at the end of their studies.

Parents/guardians and students should start thinking out of the box and make good use of such opportunities instead of students just mopping around or wasting another year to face another UTME with its uncertainties.