The Federal Government has reinforced the policy that candidates must be at least 18 years old before being admitted into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He emphasized that the government has also directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to prevent underage students from taking their examinations.
“No candidate will be allowed to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) unless they are 18 years old,” Mamman stated.
He further explained, “We decided at the July meeting with JAMB to give parents this year as a notice period. Students under the age of 18 will be admitted this year, but starting next year, JAMB will strictly enforce the 18-year age requirement for university applicants in Nigeria.”
Mamman clarified that this is not a new policy, but one that has long been in place. “If you calculate the number of years students are supposed to spend in school—from early childhood education to primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary school—their age by the time they are ready for university admission is typically 17 and a half years,” he noted.
“Moreover, NECO and WAEC will no longer allow underage students to sit for their exams. If a student has not spent the requisite number of years in their educational level, they will not be permitted to take the examination,” Mamman added.