The Federal Government of Nigeria has now made it official that the minimum age to enter any university or higher institution in the country is 16 years.

This was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday, July 8, during the ongoing JAMB Policy Meeting in Abuja.

According to Dr. Alausa, the government’s decision that candidates must be at least 16 years old is final and cannot be changed.

He also warned that any university or college that admits students outside the JAMB CAPS platform is breaking the law and will face consequences.

He made it clear that school heads involved in admission fraud will be taken to court and prosecuted.

It should be remembered that the former Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, had earlier told JAMB and schools to stop giving admission to students below 18 years old.

However, in July 2024, the same minister reversed that directive. During a meeting to review admission policies for the year, he supported setting the minimum age at 16 instead.

This change happened after school leaders like vice chancellors, registrars, and rectors opposed the earlier decision and requested a more flexible age limit during the JAMB meeting held on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Abuja.

Now, on July 8, 2025, the current Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has confirmed that the official minimum age for university admission is 16.