Victoria Mgbanwa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has introduced a new adjustment to the age policy for admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, offering flexibility to institutions willing to admit younger candidates.
Previously, during a policy meeting held earlier in 2024, the board had strictly directed that no candidate below the age of 16 be admitted for the 2024/2025 academic session.
However, in a recent development, a letter signed by Muhammed Babaji on behalf of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, dated October 16, 2024, has now given some leeway.
The letter reads, “Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session.
“Subsequently, the cut-off date was put on the 31st of December 2024.
“The board has taken cognisance that, due to different reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025.
“Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution’s admission policy, the board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, so long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidate but couldn’t be admitted only because of age.
“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have, on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years which remains sacrosanct.
“By this development, you are requested to harvest from your CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 and who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter, to enable final decision.”
While this move offers flexibility, JAMB emphasized that it is up to individual institutions to decide whether or not to apply this extended age window. The decision ensures that students who would have missed out on admission due to minor age differences will not be unfairly disadvantaged.
“This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured.
“Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so. As always, please accept the best regards from the board.” It added.
