Teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana are no longer eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England under the United Kingdom’s overseas-trained teacher application route.

The change took effect on September 9 and means teachers trained in the two West African countries can no longer use the route to obtain QTS, a status recognised by many schools in England.

The UK Department for Education said countries included in the scheme must meet specific requirements to ensure that applicants’ qualifications, professional standing and teaching experience can be properly verified. One of the requirements is that a country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional status and providing authenticated references.

According to the department, Nigeria and Ghana did not meet the reference-verification requirement.

“Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school’s official email domain. This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications,” the department said.

The UK department said about 90 percent of applications are assessed within 12 months.

India was also removed from the eligible list because it does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing.

South Africa is now the only African country remaining on the list of countries whose teachers can use the QTS application route.

The department said the verification process was necessary to ensure that information provided by applicants was genuine and that teachers awarded QTS possessed the required skills and experience to teach in England.

To apply for QTS, overseas-trained teachers must have a valid passport, an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and professional recognition as a teacher in the country where they trained.

Applicants must also have completed any mandatory induction requirements needed for full teacher registration in their country of qualification.

They are required to demonstrate that they are qualified to teach children aged between five and 16 and have at least nine months of teaching experience gained after qualifying as a teacher.

Applicants must also provide employment references that verify their work history and use an email address linked to the school’s official domain.

Depending on the country where a teacher trained, additional requirements may include qualifications to teach pupils aged between 11 and 16 and a specialism in subjects such as mathematics, science, biology, chemistry, physics, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish.

However, because teachers in England are employed by individual schools rather than the Department for Education, schools may consider alternative routes into teaching.

The department said teachers who are no longer eligible to use the QTS application service can explore other routes into teaching in England.

The Full List of New Appointees 

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has approved the appointment of the following persons as Special Advisers (SPAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs):

SPECIAL ADVISERS (SPAs)

1. Chief S.N.C. Nwagu — Special Adviser on Conflict Resolution and Mediation

2. Hon. Dr. Fidelis Odo — Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs and Co-ordination

3. Augustine Okoli — Special Adviser on Policy Affairs and Analysis

4. Hon. Pedro Nwankwo — Special Adviser on Stakeholders Relations and Community Affairs

5. Chimezie Nkwuo — Special Adviser on Economic Development

6. Chief Vitalis Okonkwo — Special Adviser on Grassroot Coordination

7. Peter Andy Omeje — Special Adviser on Commerce and Business Development

SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SSAs)

8. Rachael Okonkwo — Senior Special Assistant on Film and Creative Industry Development

9. Barr. Okey Ude — Senior Special Assistant on Inter-Party and Mobilization

10. Hon. Chinedu Chukwunwike — Senior Special Assistant on Party Monitoring

11. Barr. Peter Chukwujekwu Ogbe — Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Regulatory Compliance

12. Chukwudi Ozoeluba — Senior Special Assistant on Boundary and Land Dispute Resolution

13. Frank Udemezue — Senior Special Assistant on Small and Medium Enterprise Development

SPECIAL ASSISTANTS (SAs)

14. Hon. Alachi Aaron Onu — Special Assistant on Forest Protection and Conservation

15. Ugwu Emmanuel Chima — Special Assistant on Market Maintenance and Sanitation

16. Dr. Okwoigwe Modestus Ndubuisi — Special Assistant on Health Facility Maintenance

17. Hon. Okechukwu Agu — Special Assistant on Environmental Protection

18. Ozor Ejike Okpe — Special Assistant on Enlightenment and Communicationin

19. Solomon Gwiyi — Special Assistant on Publications and Documentation

20. Cornelius Ugwu — Special Assistant on Town Union Co-ordination

21. Hon. Romanus Ugwu — Special Assistant on Market Decongestion

22. Hon. Gab Onu — Special Assistant on Market Sanitation

23. Prince Lawrence Ugwu — Special Assistant on Road Infrastructure Maintenance

24. Ugwunnadi Pius Nwabueze — Special Assistant on Grassroot and Rural Integration

25. Timothy Chukwuemeka Nnaji — Special Assistant on Community Youth Engagement and Development

26. Nick Nnaji — Special Assistant on Town Union Matters

27. Mrs. Eucharia Anunobi — Special Assistant on Women Mobilization, Enugu-North Zone

28. Aneke Ogbonna Ajie — Special Assistant on Community Engagement

29. Christian Ede — Special Assistant on Government House Matters

30. Pastor Emeka Ogbonna — Special Assistant on Humanitarian Band and Entertainment

31. Chidi Udo — Special Assistant on Inter State Relations

32. Engr. Egbonwonu Jude Chikezie — Special Assistant on Infrastructure Monitoring and Maintenance

33. Emma Ogbonna — Special Assistant on Civic Education and Voter Awareness

34. Ali Stanley Osita — Special Assistant on Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs

35. Hon. Onuora Udeanugwo — Special Assistant on Cooperative Development and Empowerment

36. Sunday Ignatius Okafor — Special Assistant on Political and Grassroot Mobilization

37. Bar. Chika Nzelu — Special Assistant on Non-Indigene Relations

38. Hon. Ugwuoke Emeka Sylvanus — Special Assistant on Environmental Management

39. Miss Domitila Chidimma Ozioko — Special Assistant on Public Engagement and Advocacy

40. Hon. Emmanuel Ugwu — Special Assistant on Human Development

41. Nnadia Ajima Nwodo — Special Assistant on Ecological Management

42. Peter Oramalu — Special Assistant on Urban Beautification

43. Sabastine Ngwu — Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment

44. Mr. Titus Ike Olu — Special Assistant on Public Awareness and Sensitisation

45. Mr. Jude Aniogbo — Special Assistant on Industrial Harmony

46. Romanus Agada — Special Assistant on Public Advocacy

47. Onogwu Festus Chibuike — Special Assistant on Community Development

48. Ugwuja Emmanuel Okeke — Special Assistant on Public Engagement

49. Barr. Nnabuike Nwodo — Special Assistant on Public Utilities (North)

50. Ugwu Ikechukwu — Special Assistant on Inter Party Affairs

51. Ugwu Franklin Izuchukwu — Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment and Orientation

52. Aniagor Sunday Okechukwu — Special Assistant on Cultural Orientation

53. Tobias Ogbonna Onuh — Special Assistant on Rural Development

54. Abugu Sabastine Ekene — Special Assistant on Social Orientation

55. Ugwu Cletus — Special Assistant on Public Communication

56. Engr. Onyeka Solomon — Special Assistant on Public Participation and Inclusion

57. Hon. Innocent Anayo Eze — Special Assistant on Youth Engagement

58. Okwo Emeka Robert — Special Assistant on Environment

59. Hon. Fred Ozoilo — Special Assistant on Training and Strategy

60. Celestine Ikeana — Special Assistant on Youth Development

61. Mr. Christian Njeke — Special Assistant on Capacity Building

62. Hon. Mark Ogbonna — Special Assistant on Community Building

63. Chuma Dilibe Esq. — Special Assistant on Technology and Innovation

64. Engr. Ugwu Uchenna — Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment and Skills Development

65. Hon. Ikerionwu Eze — Special Assistant on Digital Innovation

66. Dr. Cordelia Idoko — Special Assistant on Gender Co-ordination and Empowerment

67. Com. Mike Okenwa — Special Assistant on Grassroot Sports Development

68. Prince Ifeanyi Onuora — Special Assistant on National Orientation

69. Gabriel Igwe — Special Assistant on Community Enlightenment and Outreach

70. Uche Ezugwu — Special Assistant on Environmental and Sanitation

71. Ozioko Theophilus — Special Assistant on Youths Engagement

72. Igwe Ifebuche Cyprian — Special Assistant on Protocol

73. Peter Chibuzor Nwaekemezie — Special Assistant on Market Orientation

74. Mrs. Eucharia Ani — Special Assistant on Gender Advocacy

75. Hon. Solomon Egbo — Special Assistant on Contact and Mobilization

76. Obinna Augustine Okenwa — Special Assistant on Youth and Sports

77. Engr. Wilson Ogbonna — Special Assistant on Monitoring and Evaluation

78. Paul Nwodo — Special Assistant on Government Communication

79. Chukwudi Nwatu — Special Assistant on Social Media

80. Blessing Ugwoke — Special Assistant on Women Mobilization

81. Prince Nonso Nnaji — Special Assistant on Youths Alliance

82. Barr. Francis Anurika Ani — Special Assistant on Social Engagement

83. Hon. Ngene Chijioke Oscar — Special Assistant on Urban Renewal and Beautification

84. Hon. Okwudili Onuora — Special Assistant on Security Intelligence

85. Maduako Ikenna Philip — Special Assistant on Regional Integration

86. Ngozi Itanyi — Special Assistant on Grassroot Women Coordination

87. Agbo Kinsley Okechukwu A. — Special Assistant on Stakeholders Engagement

88. Chekwube Henry Ogbodo — Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization

89. Chukwuma Prince Uche — Special Assistant on Grass-root Mobilization

90. Kingsley Chekwube Ude — Special Assistant on Media Relations

91. Onwuka Toti Miracle — Special Assistant on Special Duties

92. Chukwudi Ozor — Special Assistant on Project Monitoring

93. Mama Onyebuchi Emmanuel — Special Assistant on Public Affairs

94. Eze Godwin — Special Assistant on Inter Party Relationship and Management

95. Ishienyi Olisaemeka — Special Assistant on Social Welfare and Community Relations

96. Chief Robert Alum — Special Assistant on Rural Development and Livelihood

97. Humphrey Madu — Special Assistant on Political Liaison

98. Uroko Innocent — Special Assistant on Inter-Governmental Affairs

99. Ifeanyi Ani — Special Assistant on Community Mobilization
100. Chikezie Aga — Special Assistant on Civic Values and National Re-orientation

101. Surv. Julius Nshiodo — Special Assistant on Rural Surveys and Land Development

The appointments take effect immediately.

Signed:

Prof. Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the Enugu State Government

Monday, 21st September, 2026