JAMB directs tertiary institutions to admit candidates below 18 years until next August

JAMB directs tertiary institutions to admit candidates below 18 years until next August

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has granted permission to tertiary institutions to continue the admission process for candidates who are 16 years old until August 2025.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board explained that the decision was meant to ensure equity because of those institutions whose 2024 admission would last till next August.

JAMB recalled that the issue of minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years for the 2024/’25 academic session, while the cut-off date was put on the December 31, 2024.

The statement said: “JAMB has taken cognisance 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 August 31, 2025, as 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, institutions are requested to harvest from their CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between January 1 and August 31, 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.”