JAMB permits Nigerian Universities and tertiary institutions to accept admission seekers who turn 16 by August 31, 2025

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has authorized tertiary institutions to admit students who are 16 years of age or will attain that age by August 2025.

This is according to a circular signed by Mohammed A. Babaji, Director (Admissions) at JAMB and sent to tertiary institutions this week.

The circular comes after the Nigerian government recently announced 18 years as the minimum age for admission seekers in the country causing public outrage.

Tahir Mamman, Nigeria’s education minister, had stated that candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education must be 18 years and above.

The circular is titled ‘Admission Of Candidates With Minimum Admissible Age Of 16 Years.’It reads,

 “Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation's tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session. Subsequently, the cut-off date was put on the 31st of December 2024.

“The Board has taken cognizance that, due to different reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025.

“Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution's admission policy, the Board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, so long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidate but couldn't be admitted only because of age.

“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years which remains sacrosanct.

“By this development, you are requested to harvest from your CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.”

It further noted that the move is to ensure equity for institutions whose admission will last till August 2025.

 “This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured.

“Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so.”