The Federal Government has formally established 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Tuesday while declaring open the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held in Abuja.
Alausa stressed that the new age benchmark is official and non-negotiable, warning that any admission conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal.
“The issue of age at entry into tertiary institutions has generated much debate, but our position is clear. The entry age is now officially pegged at 16,” the minister stated.
He explained that although the minimum age was initially set at 18, the government reconsidered the policy due to feedback from stakeholders and the need for flexibility in genuine cases.
“This decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. Sixteen years of age for admission is now non-negotiable, and institutions must ensure strict compliance,” Alausa said.
He, however, acknowledged that rare and exceptional cases would be accommodated, particularly for gifted children or those who have experienced accelerated learning. Such exceptions, he noted, must be properly documented and justified.
The Minister also issued a stern warning against any attempt to falsify age records in a bid to circumvent the policy.
“The ministry is firm in its resolve, and those attempting to manipulate age records will face appropriate sanctions,” he said.
Dr. Alausa further warned that heads of institutions involved in admission malpractice or violations of the CAPS system would be prosecuted.
It will be recalled that in 2024, former Education Minister Tahir Mamman had directed JAMB and tertiary institutions to discontinue the admission of candidates below 18. The directive sparked widespread backlash and was eventually revised to the current 16-year age threshold after consultations with stakeholders.
The annual JAMB policy meeting sets the guidelines for admissions into Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for each academic year.
