JAMB Reinforces Minimum Age Requirement for University Admission, Sets High Bar for Underage Exceptions
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reiterated its stance on the minimum age for university admission in Nigeria, emphasizing that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September of the admission year. This clarification came from JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, during a meeting with stakeholders convened to discuss preparations for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), review past exam performance, and address emerging issues.
While the established minimum age remains 16, JAMB acknowledges that exceptional candidates younger than this age may be considered for admission under specific, stringent conditions. Prof. Oloyede explained that waivers may be granted to exceptionally gifted students below 16 years of age, but only if they demonstrate outstanding academic prowess by achieving a score of 80% or higher in not just one, but four key examinations. These include the UTME itself, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC), any Post-UTME screening conducted by the admitting institution, and/or the General Certificate of Education (GCE) O/level examination. This requirement underscores the need for consistent and demonstrable academic excellence across multiple assessments.
The JAMB Registrar expressed growing concern over the increasing number of underage candidates registering for the UTME. He revealed that, as of Friday 7th, 2025, during his monitoring of registration centers in Lagos, 11,512 out of the 780,202 candidates registered so far were under 16. Prof. Oloyede lamented that while JAMB had previously made allowances for exceptionally bright underage candidates, this privilege is now being widely abused. He warned that the board will impose stricter measures and penalties on underage candidates attempting to circumvent the regulations, potentially rendering their efforts and financial investments futile. He specifically mentioned that the increasing trend of underage registration is alarming and will be addressed decisively.
Prof. Oloyede clarified the rationale behind the age requirement, emphasizing the crucial link between age, maturity, and legal compliance. He argued that age plays a significant role in a candidate’s readiness for the rigors of university education. He drew a parallel with age restrictions for leadership positions, stating that just as certain ages are required for holding public office, age considerations are equally important in the context of educational admissions. He stressed that this is about adhering to established laws and recognizing that biological age is closely connected to the development of intelligence and overall maturity. While acknowledging that exceptions can be made for truly exceptional cases, he insisted on the need for clear criteria to identify such individuals.
The Registrar further elaborated on the process of identifying exceptional candidates, stating that mere claims of brilliance are insufficient. He emphasized the need for demonstrable evidence of outstanding academic performance. Using the UTME as an example, he pointed out that a score of 200 out of 400 (50%) is not indicative of exceptional ability. He reiterated that only a score of 80% (320 out of 400) or higher across the four specified examinations signals that a candidate is genuinely exceptional and worthy of consideration despite being underage.
Prof. Oloyede also voiced his concerns about the practice of some private universities admitting underage students. He noted that a significant proportion of these students often struggle academically and eventually end up transferring to other programs due to their poor performance. He stated that, “in most cases, 80 percent of their intakes end up being migrated to other programmes owing to poor standing.” This, he argued, highlights the importance of adhering to the age requirement to ensure students’ academic success.
Furthermore, the JAMB Registrar criticized the unethical practice of parents falsifying their children’s ages for admission purposes. He pointed out the hypocrisy of parents who inflate their children’s ages for admission and then later reduce the same age to enable them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. He said, “The Board is not unaware of these sharp practices that parents perpetrate to alter the age of their wards for the purpose of admission, and on graduation, they apply for a reduction of that same age to enable their wards undergo the one-year mandatory service of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).” He warned that JAMB is aware of these “sharp practices” and will take appropriate measures to address them.
