A major education policy shift has been announced by the Federal Government, as 16 years has now been formally established as the minimum age requirement for admission into any Nigerian tertiary institution. The decision, which takes immediate effect across all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, aims to standardize the academic progression of students and curb the rising trend of underage admissions.
This was confirmed on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education, following a directive issued at the end of the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja. The move, officials say, aligns Nigeria’s education standards with global best practices.
Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reaffirmed that the new age benchmark is not only about educational maturity but also psychological readiness. “We’ve observed a worrying pattern where candidates as young as 13 or 14 are pushed into tertiary institutions, only to struggle emotionally and academically,” he stated. “This policy is a step toward restoring sanity and fairness in admissions.”
Under the revised guidelines, any candidate below 16 years old by October 1 of the admission year will no longer be eligible, regardless of their UTME scores. Institutions found violating this regulation risk sanctions, including withdrawal of accreditation for affected courses. Private universities are also mandated to comply without exceptions.
The policy comes amid growing public concern about declining standards and increasing dropout rates linked to premature entry into higher institutions. Education stakeholders have praised the move as long overdue, arguing that it will encourage a more structured and healthy academic journey for students.
Parents and guardians are being urged to allow their children complete secondary school at a reasonable pace, rather than fast-tracking them for social prestige. The Ministry of Education emphasized that the focus should be on building a strong foundational knowledge base—not rushing into tertiary institutions for the sake of status.
This announcement marks one of the most consequential education reforms in recent years and is expected to reshape admission strategies across the country. Institutions will begin immediate compliance ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session, with updated eligibility criteria to be published on all official portals.
