The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that some universities in Nigeria admit students as young as 10 years old. However, universities like the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have a minimum age requirement of 16 years. JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, highlighted this issue at a JAMB policy meeting in Abuja, according to Daily Trust. He shared a case where a 15-year-old Nigerian university graduate faced issues while applying for a postgraduate scholarship in Germany. The European Union and Germany found the age of the graduate unusual and contacted JAMB. Oloyede warned that in the next few years, this could lead to increased scrutiny and challenges for Nigerian graduates. He noted that a vice-chancellor confirmed the student's attendance but felt embarrassed to respond to the EU's inquiry. As reported by Vanguard, Oloyede stressed the need to stop admitting underage students.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government accepted that the minimum age for the 2024 admission would be 16 years. The minister of education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at a stakeholder meeting organized by JAMB, said the government has pegged the admission age to 18.