The Federal Government has formally set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board held in Abuja.
Alausa, while declaring the meeting open, emphasised that the age benchmark is now official and non-negotiable.
He warned that any admission carried out outside the Central Admissions Processing System 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 for admission into tertiary institutions is now officially pegged at 16 years.
“It was reduced from 18, which was to be effective from this year’s exercise, to the need for this compliance,” Alausa said.
He explained that the decision was guided by the need to strike a balance between academic readiness and cognitive maturity.
“This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness.
“Sixteen years of age for admission is non-negotiable. Institutions are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance,” he added.
Alausa noted that while the policy would be strictly enforced, exceptions could be made in rare and justifiable cases.
“We understand there may be a few exceptional cases, and provisions have already been made for legitimate exceptions, especially for gifted children or those with accelerated educational progress.
“However, this must be demonstrated and documented, and it must be justified,” Alausa said.
He also warned against attempts to manipulate age records to beat the new directive.
In his words,”The ministry is firm in its resolve, and those attempting to circumvent this policy by altering age records will be sanctioned accordingly.”
Alausa further stated that heads of institutions found culpable of admission fraud or circumventing CAPS would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
In 2024, the then Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, had directed JAMB and tertiary institutions to stop admitting candidates below the age of 18.
The policy faced widespread criticism and was later revised to allow admission from age 16, following pressure from education stakeholders.
The JAMB annual policy meeting sets guidelines for the conduct of admissions into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the coming academic session.
