Yes, the northwest ordinance can explain how a territory can become a state
Step-by-step explanation:
The north west ordinance tells how to govern the territories which are in the north western region. Along with that it also tells how the territories in the north west become a state.
For the territories to become a state, the population of that territory should be at least of 60000 free people. It should also have a governor, a secretary and at least three judges for it to become a state from a territory under the north west ordinance,