16 or Nothing: FG Bans Underage Entry into Nigerian Universities
Beginning with the 2025/2026 academic session, no student below the age of 16 will be allowed to gain admission into any tertiary institution in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced.
The new policy was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the annual policy meeting on admissions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja. According to him, the directive is non-negotiable and institutions that flout it risk severe sanctions, including withdrawal of their licenses.
In a bid to reinforce the credibility of the admission process, Dr. Alausa emphasised that the age limit—alongside other newly adopted rules—is aimed at entrenching fairness, merit, and discipline in the nation’s higher education system. “Institutions must comply without exception,” he warned, vowing that any defaulter will be dealt with decisively.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, echoed the Minister's position, warning institutions against underhanded admissions. He reaffirmed that all admissions must be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), declaring any admission outside the platform as illegal and unacceptable. He also lamented how some institutions exploit loopholes to offer unauthorised placements, which eventually leave students stranded.
In a significant policy shift, stakeholders at the meeting also agreed on new minimum cut-off marks for the 2025/2026 session. Universities must not admit candidates scoring below 150, colleges of nursing are pegged at 140, while polytechnics and colleges of education must observe a 100-point minimum. Any institution found admitting candidates below these thresholds will face regulatory consequences.
The meeting further revealed that the National Assembly is currently deliberating a bill that seeks to criminalise illegal admissions. The legislation, if passed, will hold culpable school administrators and admission officers accountable for fraudulent enrolments.
On a celebratory note, JAMB announced the top scorers of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Okeke Chinedu Christian from Anambra State led with a score of 375, closely followed by Ayuba Simon-Peter John from Gombe with 374, and Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka from Kwara with 373. Interestingly, all three top scorers are male and applied to study Mechanical Engineering at either the University of Lagos (UNILAG) or Afe Babalola University.
Meanwhile, Lagos State University (LASU), UNILAG, and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) emerged as the most sought-after universities in this year’s admission cycle.
To ensure a timely and structured admission process, the Federal Government also released deadlines for institutions: public universities must complete admissions by October 31, private universities by November 30, and polytechnics and colleges of education by December 31.