By Ikpommwosa Odigie
The Federal Government has officially pegged the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions at 16 years.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday during the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) held in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the age requirement is non-negotiable and must be strictly observed by all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide. He noted that the policy aims to uphold academic standards and ensure candidates are adequately matured for the demands of higher education.
In addition, the Minister cautioned against the practice of admitting candidates outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), stressing that such actions remain illegal. He warned that any institution head found culpable of bypassing CAPS or manipulating the admission process would be made to face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The new directive forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to sanitize Nigeria’s tertiary admission process and entrench transparency and accountability within the system.
