FG Sets 16 as Official Minimum Age for University Admission in Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially declared 16 years as the minimum age for students to gain admission into any tertiary institution in the country. This policy was confirmed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The announcement puts an end to all speculation about the age requirement for university and polytechnic admissions. Dr. Alausa clearly stated that this age benchmark is now non-negotiable and must be followed strictly by all higher institutions in Nigeria.
According to the Minister, no tertiary institution is allowed to admit any candidate below 16 years of age, regardless of academic performance or exceptional results in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He further warned that any admission conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) will be declared illegal. CAPS is JAMB’s official digital platform that regulates and monitors all admissions across Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Dr. Alausa stressed that any school head or admission officer caught engaging in illegal admissions or trying to bypass the CAPS process would face strict legal punishment under Nigerian law.
The new age policy is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving the quality, fairness, and structure of the Nigerian education system. It also seeks to ensure that students entering tertiary institutions are emotionally and intellectually mature enough for higher learning.
Education experts have welcomed the decision, saying that it would help reduce academic pressure on very young students and encourage proper educational planning at the primary and secondary levels.
This new guideline is expected to be fully enforced in the 2025/2026 academic admission cycle, alongside other regulations discussed during the policy meeting. Institutions and parents are advised to take note of the new rule while planning for future admissions.