JAMB DEFENDS 16-YEAR MINIMUM ADMISSION AGE, CITES MATURITY AND EXISTING LAWS

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has strongly defended its policy pegging the minimum admission age into tertiary institutions at 16 years, emphasising the need for cognitive maturity and strict adherence to educational laws.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the clarification amid ongoing debates and public concerns over the age benchmark for the 2025/2026 and 2026 admission cycles. He insisted that the policy was not arbitrarily decided but rooted in legal frameworks and the developmental needs of young learners.

“We didn’t just wake up one night and say it must be 16 years,” Prof. Oloyede stated during a recent engagement. He highlighted that age correlates significantly with emotional and intellectual maturity required for university life, adding that the benchmark strikes a balance between academic preparedness and responsible adulthood.

The policy, endorsed by the Federal Government and the National Council on Education, officially sets 16 years as the minimum admissible age. Candidates must attain this age by September 30 of the admission year to be eligible for regular admission. Institutions have been warned against admitting underage candidates outside approved exceptional provisions.

JAMB has, however, made limited concessions for exceptionally brilliant candidates below the age limit. Such candidates may be considered if they achieve outstanding scores  up to 80 per cent aggregate across UTME, SSCE, and Post-UTME  and undergo rigorous screening. Only a small number, previously around 500, are expected to qualify under this waiver.

The defence comes after a Delta State court ruling earlier in the year that declared aspects of the policy unconstitutional in a specific case, though JAMB maintains the overall framework remains intact and enforceable nationwide.

Stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions, with some parents praising the move for promoting maturity while others argue it could hinder gifted students. JAMB reiterated its commitment to fairness, urging compliance to ensure smooth admissions and uphold standards in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

As the 2026 UTME registration period approaches, candidates and parents are advised to verify age eligibility through official JAMB channels.