Catchment Area (Indigene/Non-Indigene)
Do you know that all Universities have what we call CATCHMENT AREA? This simply means the areas or the extant boundaries that the university considers to be indigenous. To explain further, all Universities sees any part of the host state as a catchment area. That is, the Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, sees the whole of Delta State as a catchment area. Also, Nnamdi Azikiwe University sees Anambra State as a whole as a catchment area. There are some Universities that may allow more than the host state (the state that the university is located) to be part of the catchment area. That is, such University may allow the host state and one or two other states to share in the catchment, depending on the nature of funding, relativity and laws establishing such institution.
Note: For Federal Universities, the whole of Nigeria is a catchment area because they are funded by the federal government.
Why am I bringing this in, you may ask? It is because as an indigene, you have more advantage of being admitted than a non-indigene. For example, the Niger Delta University has a quota policy (quota policy means the amount/percentage of indigene management will admit as against the proportion of non-indigene: this is particularly supported by the Act establishing the institution) of a whooping 80% for indigenes and 20% for non-indigenes. According to a former Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Christopher Ikporukpo, this quota policy is to ensure that the Ijaw nation which is seen as academically backward in Nigeria have the opportunity to meet up with other parts of the country academically. This assertion was also corroborated by the Late D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha in the NDU 2015 convocation event who was of the view that this quota system was consequent upon the laws establishing the NDU which was intended to make more Ijaws academically advantaged.
Just imagine! So, if NDU only give 20% to non-indigene, and the non-indigene applicants are more than the indigene, then, know that there is slimmer opportunity to be admitted if you are a non-indigene. This is why we are sharing this somewhat secret with you. Remember we want you to have upper hand and be admitted once without fail? Now, which Local Government of Origin do you want to use to gain admission? A non- indigene Local Government? You really got to think twice. If you are pursuing admission in Niger Delta University, and your mother is from Bayelsa, then, please, quietly go to your mother’s Local Government and get an identity immediately and use it to apply for your admission even if your father is not from Bayelsa. This apply to any other state any student is aspiring to school. We are sounding this now because most students feel only their father’s Local government can be used as their Origin. That thinking is incorrect.
What if none of your parents are from the state where the University that you are pursuing admission is located? No hope? Let me say for now that there is no hope because indigeneship will only have to do with the origin of a father or a mother. So, if none of your parents came from a state, you are 100% not from such LGA and will consequently be treated as a non-indigene.
Benefit of Applying as an Indigene
There are two major benefits of being an indigent student.
- You will have a higher opportunity of being admitted since quota for indigene is higher.
- You will pay lesser school fees all through your stay in the University. The difference is usually 20-50 thousand Naira depending on the school. Take a look at the school fees of Niger Delta University for the 2016/2017 academic session.
S/n | Faculties | School Fees | ||||||
Indigene Non- Indigene Year One |
Indigene Non- Indigene Year Two |
Indigene Non- Indigene Year Three and Above |
||||||
1 | Education | |||||||
2 | Science | |||||||
3 | Management Sciences | |||||||
4 | Social Sciences | |||||||
5 | Arts | |||||||
6 | Agricultural Science | 110,000 | 160,000 | 61,000 | 100,000 | 35,000 | 55,000 | |
7 | Engineering | 120,000 | 170,000 | 70,000 | 110,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | |
8 | Law | 130,000 | 180,000 | 80,000 | 120,000 | 45,000 | 65,000 | |
9 | Basic Medical Sciences | |||||||
10 | Clinical Sciences | |||||||
11 | Pharmacy | |||||||
12 | Nursing | 150,000 | 200,000 | 100,000 | 140,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 |
In case you have not spot the difference, for Education year one indigene, their school fees is 110,000, while for non-indigene, the school fees is 160,000. The difference here is 50,000. That is a whole lots of save I guess!
More secrets to admission? Get a copy of this material @http://admissionsandutme.com/2018/01/06/how-to-avoid-failure-in-utme-post-utme-and-getting-admission/

Michael O'Jules
Site Admin, Publisher and Author