Education Minister Reverses Course on 18-Year Age Requirement for JAMB.

Candidates as young as 16 years old may now be admitted to Nigerian postsecondary institutions through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), according to a directive from Minister of Education Tahir Mamman.

At the JAMB-organized policy discussion on 2024 admission in Abuja on Thursday, key stakeholders in the nation's postsecondary admissions processes gathered, including JAMB registrars, university vice-chancellors, rectors of polytechnics, provosts of colleges of education, and other officials.

Prior to this, the minister had instructed institutions to reject applicants under 18 years old, sparking objections from the audience primarily composed of registrars, admission officers, and school heads.

The minister defended his stance, citing it as a matter of law and policy inherent in Nigeria's educational framework.

“Our laws require students to be in school for six years — some start at five-six years for primary, three for basic, and three for secondary education... It doesn’t require a statement from the minister; we are only reiterating what the law states,” he emphasized.

Debates ensued over the minister's directive during the 2024 policy meeting on admissions, particularly concerning candidates classified as minors who had already taken the UTME.

JAMB Registrar Is-haq Oloyede clarified that the decision to admit 16-year-olds was not a new guideline but a continuation of existing policies.

The meeting ultimately supported the minister's decision, with Mamman concluding, “For practical reasons, we will go with that,” receiving applause and cheers from the audience.