Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, confirmed that the federal government has officially set the minimum age for tertiary school admissions at 16 years. This announcement was made on Tuesday during the 2025 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) held in Abuja.

This policy marks a reversal from the previous administration; in July 2024, the former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, had established 18 as the minimum admission age. However, following Mamman’s removal, Alausa’s successor has opted to lower this threshold to tentatively allow for 16-year-olds to gain admission.

In a notable development, JAMB indicated that exceptionally gifted candidates younger than 16 would still be permitted to sit for the annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Adding to the complexity, an October 2024 landmark ruling in Delta stated that JAMB could not enforce a legal minimum age requirement, effectively nullifying the board’s existing policy. In light of this, JAMB announced in February 2025 that it sought a stay of execution while the appeal on the matter was ongoing.

At the recent JAMB policy meeting, Alausa stated, “The issue of age at entry into tertiary institutions has generated much debate, but our position is clear. The entry age for admission into tertiary institutions is now officially pegged at 16 years. This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness.”

He emphasized the necessity for strict compliance by all institutions, noting, “Sixteen years of age for admission is non-negotiable. Institutions are hereby directed to ensure adherence to this policy.”

While recognizing that there may be exceptional cases, Alausa outlined that provisions are in place for gifted children or those demonstrating accelerated educational progress, provided such instances are thoroughly documented and justified. He concluded with a firm warning against attempts to manipulate age records, stating that individuals who attempt to bypass this policy will face sanctions.