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By Oscar Okh
The Federal Government has officially set 16 years as the minimum age requirement for admission into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, declaring the new guideline as non-negotiable.
Minister of state , Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made the announcement on Monday during the 2025 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja. He emphasized that the age limit was introduced to ensure that students possess the cognitive and emotional maturity needed to cope with the rigors of higher education.
“Sixteen years is the acceptable and official entry age into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is non-negotiable. Institutions must ensure strict compliance. Any admission conducted outside required guidelines is null and void, and will be sanctioned accordingly,” Sununu stated.
He warned that any admission conducted outside the JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal and would attract sanctions.
Institutions and individuals found culpable risk legal action and administrative penalties.
To reinforce compliance, the Ministry of Education announced the establishment of a Central Admissions and Examination Malpractice Committee. The committee, to be chaired by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, will be responsible for maintaining a national database of examination and admission fraud offenders.
The new policy also includes plans to integrate WAEC and NECO into JAMB’s Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system, in a bid to enhance transparency and curb examination malpractices.
The decision aligns with earlier reforms introduced under former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, who had initially proposed 18 as the minimum age before later revising it to 16 for the 2024 admission cycle.
The latest announcement by Dr. Sununu cements 16 years as the official and permanent standard.
The move has sparked a mix of reactions among education stakeholders. While many have welcomed it as a step toward restoring integrity in the admission process, others expressed concern over the maturity level of some candidates entering higher institutions at that age.
Nevertheless, the Federal Government insists the measure will promote accountability and ensure Nigerian youths are better prepared academically and psychologically for life in tertiary institutions