The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will permit tertiary institutions in Nigeria to continue admitting candidates who are 16 years old until August 2025. This decision aims to promote equity in the admission process, especially for institutions whose 2024 admission exercises are expected to extend until August of the following year.
In a statement released on Thursday, JAMB explained that this policy was established during the 2024 Policy Meeting, which set the minimum age for admission at 16 years for the 2024/25 academic session. The cut-off date for this age requirement was established as December 31, 2024.
The Board noted that some institutions would need to conduct their admission processes beyond the initially specified timelines due to various factors. To address this, JAMB has decided to allow institutions to admit candidates who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025, provided that these candidates meet the admission standards set by the institutions. This measure will ensure that age does not hinder qualified candidates from securing admission.
The statement further clarified that institutions with their own established minimum age requirements of not less than 16 years will maintain those standards without compromise. JAMB has requested that these institutions compile and submit the list of eligible candidates—those who will reach 16 between January 1 and August 31, 2025—within a week to facilitate the final decision-making process.
This move is expected to provide greater flexibility for institutions and candidates, ensuring that more students have access to higher education opportunities without being disadvantaged by age restrictions.
