The Federal Government has officially set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy during the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to Dr. Alausa, the decision aims to ensure that students entering higher education possess the necessary cognitive maturity and academic readiness. “This policy reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. Sixteen years is non-negotiable,” he stated.
However, he clarified that exceptions may be made for gifted students who progress academically faster than their age group. Such exemptions must be properly documented and justified.
Sanctions for Age Falsification
The Minister cautioned against manipulation of age records by tertiary institutions to circumvent the age requirement. He warned that schools found guilty of altering records will face strict sanctions. Although he did not specify penalties, Dr. Alausa emphasized that enforcement will be uncompromising.
Tackling Exam Malpractice with New Oversight Unit
In addition to the age policy, Dr. Alausa announced robust efforts to curb examination malpractice, which he described as a “cancer” in Nigeria’s education system. A new Central Examination Malpractice Unit will be created within the Federal Ministry of Education. The unit, chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Enitan, will document, track, and share data on malpractice cases across the country.
“This central database will be accessible to all institutions. We hope this will discourage malpractice, as offenders will be tried under the Exam Malpractices Act,” Alausa explained.
Full Adoption of CBT for WAEC and NECO
The Minister also revealed plans to support WAEC and NECO in fully transitioning to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), aligning with JAMB’s current exam format. The goal is to reduce fraud and bring national examinations in line with international best practices.
Background: Shift from Earlier 18-Year Policy
In early 2024, the Education Ministry under former Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman announced an 18-year minimum age requirement for university admission. That policy extended to WAEC and NECO exams, effectively barring students under 18 from writing the exams or gaining admission.
The announcement sparked nationwide backlash from parents, educators, and lawmakers, who argued that the policy would unfairly punish intelligent 16- and 17-year-old students. Amid the controversy, Mamman temporarily relaxed the rule, allowing underage candidates for the 2024 admission cycle while promising strict enforcement in 2025.
However, the 18-year mandate was officially reversed in October 2024, following a cabinet reshuffle that saw Dr. Tunji Alausa, then Minister of State for Health, appointed as the new Minister of Education. At his first press conference in November 2024, Alausa announced the scrapping of the 18-year age requirement, arguing that it was a misinterpretation of the National Policy on Education.
He assured stakeholders that the education system would remain inclusive, especially for academically advanced students, but stressed that clear guidelines must be in place.
Conclusion
With this new directive, Nigeria returns to its long-standing minimum age benchmark of 16 for university entry. The announcement reflects an effort to balance education access with academic maturity while strengthening institutional accountability and tackling systemic malpractice in Nigeria’s examination system.
