…the age benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions had previously been adjusted to 18 during the 2024 Policy Meeting.
The iNews Times reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
This directive was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the opening session of the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held on Monday.
Dr. Alausa explained that the age benchmark for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education had previously been adjusted to 18 during the 2024 Policy Meeting.
However, following a comprehensive policy review, that decision has now been reversed.
“We have now resolved that the official entry age into any tertiary institution in Nigeria shall be 16 years,” the Minister declared.
He emphasized that all institutions must strictly adhere to the newly approved age guideline.
According to him, any violation of the directive will attract “severe sanctions” from the Federal Government.
In addition, Dr. Alausa reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating irregularities in the admission process. A key strategy in achieving this, he noted, is the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the admission system–a move aimed at curbing age falsification and identity fraud among candidates.
“The integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the admission process has come to stay. It will help us effectively monitor and eliminate age falsification,” he said.
The Minister also sounded a strong warning against backdoor admissions conducted outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), JAMB’s official admission platform. He reminded institutions that any admission carried out outside the CAPS framework would be considered illegal and void.
“All admissions must be processed strictly through CAPS. Any institution found engaging in admission outside this central system will face serious consequences,” he warned.
The Policy Meeting, an annual convergence of key stakeholders in the education sector, including heads of tertiary institutions and regulatory agencies, serves as a platform for setting admission guidelines and reviewing sector-wide policies.
Further details from the meeting are expected to emerge as deliberations continue.
