The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released new screening conditions for exceptional under-16 candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
During a virtual meeting with Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Admissions on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, revealed that the board will no longer tolerate the “academic abuse” of enrolling emotionally and psychologically unprepared minors into universities.
Minimum Criteria for Underage Admissions
According to JAMB, under-16 UTME candidates can only be considered for admission if they meet the following strict academic benchmarks:
Minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400 (80%)
Post-UTME score of at least 80%
WAEC or NECO result with a minimum of 80% in a single sitting (24 out of 30 points)
Additionally, results from different exam bodies (e.g., WAEC + NECO) will not be accepted. Science students must include Mathematics among their top subjects, while Arts candidates must include English Language.
“We are not saying no child under 16 will be admitted, but they must pass through a rigorous screening process that confirms they are truly gifted,” Prof. Oloyede said. “This policy is not just about age; it’s about maturity, capacity, and long-term well-being.”
Why the Policy Matters
The Federal Government recently reaffirmed the official minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions as 16, with exceptions granted only to exceptionally gifted students.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, introduced the policy at JAMB’s 2025 policy meeting, explaining that it seeks to balance cognitive maturity with academic readiness, while discouraging underage admissions that could jeopardize students’ mental and emotional health.
To manage the screening process, JAMB has inaugurated a 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, chaired by Prof. Oloyede. The committee will screen eligible candidates in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri, and will include:
A dedicated post-UTME (even for universities that no longer conduct such exams)
An affective and psychomotor assessment to evaluate emotional maturity
A screening template designed by education experts, led by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports, and a special education expert
Out of 38,000 under-16 applicants, only 599 scored 320 and above in UTME—making them the only candidates eligible for possible consideration under the new rules.
“Even these 599 are not guaranteed admission unless they pass through our multi-layered screening,” Oloyede stressed.
JAMB also disclosed that it has removed all underage candidates from its CAPS (Central Admissions Processing System). Any university that wishes to admit such candidates must seek prior approval from the board or face sanctions.
Already, four universities have declared they will not admit any under-16 candidates under any circumstance:
Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
University of Jos
Osun State University
Affected candidates are advised to choose alternative institutions willing to consider exceptional applicants, subject to JAMB’s final screening.
Prof. Oloyede cited multiple causes for the increasing number of underage university applicants, including:
Early enrollment in primary school
Elimination of Primary Six in many states
Proliferation of ‘miracle’ tutorial centres
Parental pressure and the pursuit of social validation
“Many parents use their children’s academic progression to boost their own image in society. It’s a toxic culture,” Oloyede remarked.
He urged parents to avoid desperation, adding that the policy is meant to protect children and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
“This is not about JAMB. It is about the future of our children and the integrity of our education system,” he concluded.
