JAMB Allows Tertiary Institutions to Admit Candidates Turning 16 by August 2025

JAMB has announced that Nigerian tertiary institutions may now admit students who are currently 16 years old or will turn 16 by August 2025. This decision was communicated in an official circular sent to tertiary institutions.

The circular, signed by Mohammed A. Babaji, Director of Admissions at JAMB, is titled "Admission of Candidates with Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years."

JAMB recalled that at the 2024 Policy Meeting, it was decided that the minimum age for admission to tertiary institutions for the 2024/2025 academic year would be 16 years, with an initial cut-off date of December 31, 2024.

However, acknowledging that some institutions may continue their admissions process until July 2025, JAMB has now allowed these institutions to admit students who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025, provided they meet all other admission requirements.

The circular clarifies that individual institutions are still free to maintain their own age policies, and JAMB's decision does not override these. Institutions are required to submit a list of eligible candidates who meet the age requirement by August 2025 within one week.

This adjustment is intended to ensure fairness for institutions whose admissions processes extend until August 2025.

Institutions may choose to adhere to the original December 2024 cut-off or adopt the August 2025 extension for candidates turning 16 within that period.

This decision follows previous public debate after the government had initially announced an 18-year minimum age for university admission, a policy reiterated by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, for those seeking entry into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education.