The Federal Government has officially declared 16 years as the minimum age requirement for admission into all tertiary institutions across the country.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening session of the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that any admission granted to candidates below the stipulated age or conducted outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal.
He warned that institutions or individuals found violating this directive would face severe legal consequences.
“It is now mandatory that candidates must have attained the age of 16 before they can be admitted into any tertiary institution in Nigeria,” the minister stated.
“Furthermore, no tertiary institution has the authority to admit any candidate outside the CAPS platform. Any such admission is null and void, and those responsible will be prosecuted.”
The minister also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to sanitizing the admission process in the country, noting that adherence to rules and transparency is critical to achieving quality education and maintaining public trust.
He cautioned the heads of institutions and admission officers against engaging in any form of malpractice, stressing that anyone found culpable would be held accountable under the law.
The annual JAMB policy meeting brings together key stakeholders in the education sector, including vice chancellors, provosts, rectors, and heads of regulatory agencies, to deliberate on admission guidelines, minimum cut-off marks, and other critical issues affecting tertiary education in Nigeria.