23/09/2026
‼️FUTO ADMISSION ALERT
From Humble genius 👇🏼
Everything You Need to Know About Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS) in Nigeria
One of the most common questions asked by candidates, parents, and even admission consultants is:
👉 What are the states under ELDS?
👉 Is my state among the ELDS states?
👉 How does being from an ELDS state affect my admission chances?
If you’ve been searching for answers to these questions, this blog post will give you everything you need to know about ELDS in Nigeria.
✅ What Does ELDS Mean?
ELDS stands for Educationally Less Developed States. Follow our page for more educational content and admission tips.
These are states in Nigeria officially recognized by the Federal Government as being educationally disadvantaged compared to others. Because of this, special considerations are given to candidates from these states during admission into tertiary institutions.
✅ Why Was ELDS Introduced?
The main aim of the ELDS policy is to promote educational balance across the country. Nigeria has some states with very high literacy and enrollment levels (like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Anambra) while some states record very low literacy and enrollment levels.
To bridge this gap, candidates from ELDS states are given special advantages in admission processes, scholarships, and federal opportunities.
✅ What Are the Benefits of ELDS?
Being from an ELDS state comes with some benefits in the admission process. These include:
Lower Cut-off Marks:
Candidates from ELDS states may have lower cut-off marks in some schools compared to candidates from other states.
Catchment Area Advantage:
Most federal universities and polytechnics reserve a portion of their admission slots for ELDS candidates.
Fair Representation:
It ensures all states have representation in federal institutions regardless of educational disparity.
Scholarships and Federal Programs:
Some government scholarships and federal recruitment programs also prioritize candidates from ELDS states.
✅ List of the 23 States Under ELDS in Nigeria
According to JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education, the 23 states recognized as ELDS in Nigeria are:
Adamawa
Bauchi
Bayelsa
Benue
Borno
Cross River
Ebonyi
Gombe
Jigawa
Kaduna
Kano
Katsina
Kebbi
Kogi
Kwara
Nasarawa
Niger
Plateau
Rivers
Sokoto
Taraba
Yobe
Zamfara
✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About ELDS
1. Is Lagos an ELDS state?
❌ No. Lagos is not an ELDS state.
2. Is Ogun or Oyo part of ELDS?
❌ No. They are considered educationally developed.
3. Does being from an ELDS state guarantee automatic admission?
❌ No. It only gives you some advantage, but you must still meet the minimum requirements for admission.
4. Can a candidate use their mother’s or father’s state of origin for ELDS?
✅ Yes. As long as you can provide evidence (like state of origin certificate), you can benefit from your parent’s state of origin if it is listed under ELDS.
5. Are ELDS states the same every year?
✅ Yes. The 23 states have remained consistent over the years unless officially changed by the Federal Government.
✅ Final Thoughts
Understanding ELDS (Educationally Less Developed States) is very important for candidates seeking admission in Nigeria. If you are from any of the 23 ELDS states, you may have special consideration in admission, scholarships, and federal opportunities.
Always make sure you indicate your correct state of origin during JAMB registration and school applications to enjoy this advantage.
🔑 Key Takeaway:
If your state is among the 23 ELDS states listed above, you have an edge in the Nigerian admission system. Use it wisely!
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