Federal Government Confirms 16 Years as Minimum Age for University Admission
The Federal Government has reaffirmed the age of 16 as the minimum requirement for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, during the 2025 policy meeting on admissions, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
The minister said the decision aligns with the provisions of the 2019 National Policy on Education, which stipulates that candidates must be at least 16 years of age by October 1 of the admission year to qualify for placement into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Dr. Sununu emphasized that all institutions must strictly adhere to the policy, warning that admissions of underage candidates — whether by manipulation or direct entry routes — will be considered null and void. He cautioned that any individual or institution caught circumventing the rule would be sanctioned.
“The law is clear. The minimum age for admission remains 16. We have had cases of extremely young students gaining admission, and this is a trend we must stop. Education is not a race,” the minister stated.
The enforcement of the age limit is to be carried out through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which ensures transparency and compliance with all national guidelines.
According to the minister, CAPS will not process or validate admission offers to candidates who do not meet the age requirement.
This development comes after past debates within the education sector about the appropriate age for university admission. Some stakeholders, including lecturers and education unions, have argued in favor of raising the minimum age to 18.
They cite issues such as emotional immaturity, vulnerability to peer pressure, and the inability of very young students to adapt effectively to university life.
Others, however, have pushed back against the idea of a higher age threshold, saying that it could punish academically gifted children or those who accelerated through school due to high performance.
Some also argue that age should not override merit if the candidate has met all academic requirements.
At the meeting, JAMB officials reiterated that the age restriction is not intended to deny education to younger students but to ensure that candidates are mentally and emotionally prepared for the rigor of higher education.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, supported the move, saying that the policy is necessary to preserve the quality and integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The decision is expected to take immediate effect, applying to the 2025/2026 admission cycle. Institutions that flout the directive risk having their admission processes invalidated or facing sanctions from regulatory bodies.
This reassertion of the 16-year age benchmark brings renewed clarity to the admission process amid ongoing calls for reforms within Nigeria’s education sector. It also signals the government’s commitment to standardizing academic procedures and protecting the interests of students, institutions, and the nation’s future workforce.
