Soweto's reaction follows a recent statement by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, who announced that starting in 2025, candidates under the age of 18 would not be allowed to sit for these exams, effectively preventing them from seeking admission into tertiary institutions. Soweto criticized this decision, arguing that it unfairly drags Nigerians into an unnecessary controversy. He stated, "It's wrong to assume that early entry into university automatically leads to failure. The Minister's actions could punish thousands of young, brilliant students for issues caused by lapses within the Ministry of Education itself."

Soweto urged that the policy be suspended to allow for further discussions with stakeholders, so the implications can be thoroughly analyzed and properly addressed.

In related discussions about age limits for potential UTME candidates, John Adeniyi, deputy national coordinator of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), expressed concerns about the ongoing controversies. He cautioned that JAMB’s stance on its test administration practices could affect the integrity of the certificates issued through this process.