The Federal Government has officially set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the new policy on Tuesday at the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Policy Meeting held in Abuja. He stated that the 16-year age requirement is now “non-negotiable” and must be strictly enforced by all institutions.
“The entry age for admission into tertiary institutions is now officially pegged at 16 years,” Alausa said. “Institutions are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance. Any admission carried out outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) will be considered illegal.”
The decision replaces an earlier 2024 policy which had set the minimum age at 18—a directive that sparked criticism from education stakeholders and led to its revision.
Alausa explained that the policy is aimed at balancing cognitive maturity with academic readiness. He also warned against attempts to falsify age records to meet the requirement.
“The ministry is firm in its resolve, and those attempting to circumvent this policy by altering age records will be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.
However, the minister noted that provisions exist for “exceptional” candidates, such as gifted children or those with accelerated learning progress. “These exceptions must be well-justified and documented,” he added.
The policy, now part of JAMB’s official guidelines, is expected to shape the admission process for the 2025/2026 academic session across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Warning the heads of institutions who violate the CAPS protocol or engage in admission fraud, the minister said such actions would attract legal consequences.
