The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a comprehensive set of stringent screening measures targeting exceptional candidates under 16 years old who wish to enter Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session .
Justification for new procedures
In a virtual meeting held on August 6, 2025, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, warned against the trend of pushing emotionally and psychologically unprepared children into university education, terming it “academic abuse.” The Board reaffirmed that 16 remains the official minimum age for tertiary admission, with rare exceptions for exceptional underage candidates .
The New Eligibility Criteria
Candidates under 16 can only be considered under the following conditions:
1. UTME score: Minimum of 320 out of 400 (i.e. at least 80%).
2. Post‑UTME: Must attain at least 80% in a dedicated assessment—regardless of whether the institution usually holds post‑UTME for other candidates.
3. WAEC or NECO results: A single sitting with a minimum of 80% (equivalent to 24 points out of 30); mixing exam bodies is strictly prohibited. Science students must include Mathematics; arts students must include English among their top subjects.
Screening and Oversight Mechanisms
To enforce these measures, JAMB has:
- Removed all under-16 candidates from the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Institutions must obtain JAMB approval before admitting any of them or face sanctions.
- Established a 23‑member National Committee on Underage Admission. The Committee is chaired by Prof. Oloyede, and would be responsible for multi‑location screening in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.
- Introduced a new fourth layer of assessment focusing on emotional (affective) and psychomotor readiness. This was designed by a subcommittee led by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, to ensure candidates are mentally and socially prepared.
The framework for this additional evaluation is expected within a week, and the screening exercise will conclude by mid‑September. Also, schools will be submitting post‑UTME scores by September 16.
Scale of the Policy
Out of over 38,000 under-16 applicants, only 599 scored 320 or higher, making them eligible for the rigorous screening process. Even so, admission is not guaranteed unless cleared at every assessment layer.
Moreover, at least four universities (Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University) have declared that they will admit no underage candidates under any circumstances.
JAMB’s Message to Stakeholders
JAMB and the Ministry of Education emphasize that academic brilliance alone does not justify university admission at too young an age. The focus now includes maturity, capacity, and well‑being to safeguard both students and the integrity of the education system.
Affected families are advised to carefully choose institutions likely to admit rigorously screened and approved underage candidates. In addition, families are equally told to resist cultural pressures pushing children into accelerated academic paths prematurely.
With these changes, JAMB aims to strike a balance between honoring outstanding talent and ensuring that every university entrant is adequately prepared. Prepared in terms of age, mind, and emotion—for the challenges of tertiary education.