The federal government has announced that beginning in 2025, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will no longer offer university admission to candidates under the age of 18.
This policy change was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during an appearance on Channels TV’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program.
According to Prof. Mamman, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been instructed by the federal government to enforce the 18-year age requirement for candidates wishing to sit for their exams. WAEC is responsible for administering the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and the minister emphasized that this policy is not new.
“The required age is 18,” Mamman stated. “In a meeting with JAMB held in July, it was agreed that this year would serve as a notice period for parents. While JAMB will admit students below 18 this year, starting next year, all applicants must meet the age requirement of 18 years to gain university admission in Nigeria.”
He further clarified that this policy has been in place for a long time, and the recent announcement is simply a reminder of existing regulations. Prof. Mamman explained that when calculating the typical number of years a student spends in school—from early childhood education through to senior secondary school—the expected age of readiness for university admission is around 17 and a half years.
“This is not a new policy, contrary to some misconceptions,” he continued. “We are just reinforcing what has always been in place.”
Additionally, Prof. Mamman noted that both the National Examinations Council (NECO) and WAEC will no longer allow underage students to sit for their exams. He emphasized that students must have completed the requisite years of education at each level before being eligible to take these exams.
