Victoria Mbangwa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reiterated its enforcement of the 16-year minimum age requirement for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions while unveiling a mock examination tailored for underage candidates.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this during a media meeting in Lagos on Sunday, emphasizing that the mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is exclusively designed for candidates under the age of 16 to test their readiness for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) environment.
He clarified that candidates below the age of 16 would not qualify for admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education. However, those who score 280 or above in the UTME and meet exceptional academic performance standards may still be considered, provided they meet other conditions.
He said, “The policy meeting on admission adopted 16 years as the minimum for 2024 admission. JAMB tried to assist by extending the date to accommodate more candidates, but we were taken to court to reverse the extension to 16 years.”
The sale of application forms for the 2025 UTME will begin on January 31 and end on March 5, while the mock examination for underage candidates is scheduled for February 23. The main UTME is slated for March 8, 2025.
“We are starting the sale of forms on the 31st of January till 5th of March. There will be a mock exam on the 23rd of February and on the 8th of March there will be UTME.” Oloyede added.
Oloyede also outlined the cost of registration: candidates opting for UTME with the mock exam will pay ₦8,200, while those choosing UTME without the mock will pay ₦7,200. A separate trial-testing mock for underage candidates is priced at ₦5,700.
The age limit enforcement follows a 2024 policy that set 16 years as the minimum age for tertiary institution admission, a move supported by court rulings. This contrasts with a previously proposed 18-year benchmark, which was suspended by the Federal Government last year after public backlash.
With 870 computer-based test centres screened and approved for the 2025 UTME, JAMB continues to streamline its examination process while maintaining policies aimed at fostering academic excellence.
