The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that candidates below the age of 16 may be considered for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions if they demonstrate exceptional academic ability by scoring at least 80%—equivalent to 320 out of 400 marks—in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
This follows the reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age introduced by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.
The current Minister, Prof. Olatunji Alausa, has reinstated the 16-year minimum age requirement, a move widely welcomed by education stakeholders.
Speaking during a meeting with key officials—including Chief External Examiners, Chief Technical Advisors, and members of the Equal Opportunity Group—JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, clarified that while the 16-year benchmark remains the standard, outstanding students below this age may be given special consideration.
“Exceptional Candidates Should Not Be Overlooked” – Oloyede
Oloyede emphasized that biological age plays a crucial role in intellectual development, much like it does in leadership eligibility.
“Age is important in academic and personal maturity. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have age restrictions for leadership positions such as local government chairmen,” he said.
He added that while the 16-year rule remains in place, “we must recognize that some children are gifted. These individuals should not be denied the opportunity to sit for exams.”
To be eligible for admission, underage candidates must not only excel in UTME but also in other assessments such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Post-UTME, and General Certificate of Education O/Level.
“If a candidate under 16 scores 200 out of 400, can they really be considered exceptional? But if they achieve 320 or higher, that signals outstanding ability and deserves consideration,” Oloyede explained.
The JAMB Registrar raised concerns about private universities admitting underage candidates who may struggle academically.
“Many of these students eventually transfer to other programmes due to poor performance. Some private institutions exploit this, but we must ensure that only truly gifted students are admitted,” he warned.
He also condemned the manipulation of birth records by parents eager to secure early admission for their children, only to later alter their ages to meet the requirements for the National Youth Service Corps.
To help younger candidates assess their abilities before sitting for the main exam, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME.
Oloyede clarified that “this mock exam is not for tertiary admission purposes but to allow underage candidates to test their readiness.”
He further announced that JAMB would commence the sale of UTME registration forms from January 31 to March 5, with the mock UTME scheduled for February 23. The main UTME will take place on March 8.
