The Federal Government has announced that the minimum age for entry into Nigerian tertiary institutions is officially 16 years. Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa stated on Tuesday at the 2025 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja that this benchmark helps align “cognitive maturity with academic preparedness” and is “non-negotiable”. He emphasised that any admission outside JAMB’s Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be deemed illegal and those responsible would face prosecution.
Dr. Alausa noted that exceptions may be applied to gifted students with clearly documented justification. He also warned against age manipulation and announced new measures such as a national examination malpractice database and support for computer-based testing to safeguard academic integrity.
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