The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates below the age of 16 may be considered for admission in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), but only under strict conditions.
JAMB stated that only those who score at least 320 out of 400—demonstrating exceptional academic ability—would be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions.
This decision follows the reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age set by former Education Minister Tahir Mamman. The current minister, Tunji Alausa, reinstated the previous 16-year minimum age requirement, a move widely supported by education stakeholders.
JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, speaking at a meeting with key stakeholders, clarified that while 16 remains the standard minimum age, academically gifted candidates younger than this may be given special consideration.
“Age plays a crucial role in academic development, but there must be room for exceptions,” Oloyede said. “A candidate scoring 320 out of 400 shows outstanding ability and deserves consideration.”
He stressed that such students must excel in multiple assessments, including the UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level.
Oloyede also expressed concerns about private universities admitting underage students, noting that many struggle academically, with up to 80 per cent eventually transferring to other programmes.
Additionally, he criticised the manipulation of birth records by parents seeking early admission for their children, only to later alter ages for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) eligibility.
To evaluate younger candidates’ abilities, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME for underage students. However, this will not be used for university admission.
JAMB will begin selling UTME forms from 31 January to 5 March 2025, with a mock exam scheduled for 23 February and the main UTME on 8 March.
Credit: Businessday (Text Excluding Headline)
