JAMB makes U-turn, directs higher institutions to admit 16-year-old candidates

JAMB makes U-turn, directs higher institutions to admit 16-year-old candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that institutions can admit candidates who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025, for the 2024/2025 academic session, provided they meet the institution’s standards.

Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session.

Previously, the minimum age for admission was set at 16 years by December 31, 2024.

However, JAMB in a letter it wrote to the Vice Chancellor, Provost and Rector stated that because some institutions extended admission periods until July 2025, it will allow institutions to admit candidates who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025.

The letter which was signed by JAMB’s Director of Admissions, Mohammed Babaji for the Registrar, stated that the decision aims to ensure equity for candidates whose admissions may be delayed until August 2025.

However, the Board noted that institutions retain the right to maintain their existing minimum age requirements.

JAMB also instructed institutions to compile and submit lists of eligible candidates who will be 16 years old between January 1 and August 31, 2025, within one week of receipt of this notice.

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The letter reads, “Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session. Subsequently, the cut-off date was put on the 31st of December 2024.

“The Board has taken cognizance that, due to different reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025. Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution’s admission policy, the Board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, so long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidates but couldn’t be admitted only because of age.

“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have, on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years which remains sacrosanct.

“By this development, you are requested to harvest from your CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.

“This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured. Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so.”

JAMB makes U-turn, directs higher institutions to admit 16-year-old candidates