The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new policy allowing Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions to admit students who are 16 years old or will turn 16 by August 31, 2025.
This decision was outlined in a circular signed by Mohammed A. Babaji, JAMB’s Director of Admissions, and shared with tertiary institutions this week.
The announcement comes in response to the recent government directive that set 18 as the minimum age for university admission in Nigeria. This government policy led to widespread public concern, as many prospective students were under the age of 18.
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, had previously declared that students seeking admission to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education must be at least 18 years old.
“Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session. Subsequently, the cut-off date was put on the 31st of December 2024.
“The Board has taken cognizance that, due to different reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025.
“Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution’s admission policy, the Board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, so long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidate but couldn’t be admitted only because of age.
“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years which remains sacrosanct.
“By this development, you are requested to harvest from your CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.”
However, in a circular titled “Admission of Candidates with Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years,” JAMB clarified that students who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025, will also be eligible for admission. This adjustment is intended to ensure fairness, especially for institutions whose admission processes extend through the 2025 academic year.
This decision is seen as a welcome change for many young students and their families, offering a chance for those turning 16 to begin their higher education without delay.
“This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured.
“Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so.”
