The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, yielded to pressure on Thursday, agreeing to accept 16 years as the admission age for 2024 following deliberations with stakeholders.
This decision aims to provide opportunities for students who participated in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination but are under 18 years old.
Mamman acknowledged that heads of tertiary institutions could now consider admitting candidates who are 16 years old into their preferred institutions.
The adjustment came after strong arguments that students below 18 had already registered, taken, and passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and were awaiting admission.
Leading the motion, Prof. Kayode Thadius Ijiadunola, Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, garnered significant support from other heads, registrars, and admission officers at the policy meeting, proposing 16 as the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
“What about those who have already written their exams this year and passed? We oppose the 18-year minimum age requirement and propose 16 years,” he stated.
The proposal received widespread approval in the hall. However, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, questioned the rush, asking, “Where are parents and candidates hurrying to?”
He emphasized, “They have already taken their examinations without being informed of this requirement. If we intend to enforce it, it should apply from subsequent years.”
In response, Mamman expressed willingness to accommodate the decision for this year, despite legal implications tied to the 6-3-3-4 education system. He emphasized the practicality of allowing the 16-year minimum age requirement for the current admissions cycle.
Prof. Oloyede echoed appreciation for Mamman’s concession, stating, “We appreciate the minister for agreeing, but starting from next year, we will enforce the new rule.”
Earlier, Mamman had announced a ban on admitting candidates under 18 into tertiary institutions in the 2024 admissions cycle during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s policy meeting.
“JAMB is hereby informed of the ban on admitting underaged students into our tertiary institutions for the 2024 admissions,” Mamman declared.
He also mentioned that the Federal Government was contemplating adopting 18 years as the minimum age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions.
