The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates below the age of 16 can be considered for admission into tertiary institutions if they demonstrate exceptional academic ability by scoring at least 80%—equivalent to 320 out of 400—in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
This follows the reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age policy introduced by former Education Minister Tahir Mamman. The current Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has reinstated the previous 16-year benchmark, a decision widely supported by education stakeholders.
Speaking at a meeting with key education officials, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasized that while the general admission age remains 16, academically gifted candidates below this age may be considered under strict conditions.
“Age is an important factor in academic and intellectual development. However, some exceptional students exist, and they should not be denied opportunities. If a candidate under 16 scores 320 or more in the UTME, that demonstrates exceptional ability and deserves consideration,” Oloyede stated.
He also raised concerns about private universities admitting underage students, noting that many struggle academically and end up transferring to other programs. Additionally, he condemned the manipulation of birth records by parents attempting to secure early admission for their children.
To assess the abilities of underage candidates, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME, which is not for direct admission purposes but serves as an evaluation tool. The registration for the UTME commenced on January 31 and will continue until March 5, with a mock exam scheduled for February 23 and the main UTME on March 8.
