Only Students Aged 18 and Above to Gain Admission to Nigerian Universities, Says Education Minister

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will henceforth admit only applicants who are 18 years of age or older to Nigerian tertiary institutions according to a directive by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.

“JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws,” the minister said.

The minister gave the directive during his speech on Thursday, July 18, at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, which was attended by top stakeholders in the Nigerian tertiary school system, including university vice-chancellors and registrars, polytechnic rectors and registrars, college of education provosts and registrars, JAMB registrars and other examination body officials.

However, his directive did not go down with delegates and eminent educationists, many of who grumbled at the minister’s pronouncement in the hall. Mr. Mamman nevertheless stood his ground, insisting that his directive was, in fact, in accordance with the law.

“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five—and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he added.

Applicable From 2025

But under intense pressure from delegates at the meeting, the minister conceded to downgraded the age limit to 16, applicable only to the current admission year. From next year 2025, regulation of 18 years for eligibility for admission will apply, the Minister insisted.

Young Nigerians are completing their secondary school education in record time and applying for university education at younger age, especially in southern Nigeria.

The education minister, Mamman, is himself a former Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, and a law professor, from Adamawa State in northern Nigeria.

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