The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that only candidates who are 16 years old will be considered for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic year.
In a statement posted on its X page (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, JAMB clarified that starting from the next academic year, only candidates aged 18 and above will be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
JAMB emphasized, “Candidates who are 16 years old would be considered for admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic year; however, the entry age would be 18 years as from the next academic year.”
The announcement aligns with the federal government’s new policy, explained by Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman. He highlighted that the enrolment of underage candidates has been causing significant harm to the university and education system, necessitating the enforcement of existing rules.
Prof. Mamman remarked, “When I was monitoring the just concluded 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously underage candidates in the examination.”
This new age requirement marks a significant change in JAMB’s admission policies, aimed at enhancing the quality and integrity of tertiary education in the country.
News Editor