The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced on Thursday that universities and other higher learning institutions across the country are now permitted to admit students who will reach the age of 16 by August 31, 2025. This new guideline allows these candidates to be considered for enrollment in the 2024/2025 academic year, as long as they meet the specific requirements set forth by the institutions they apply to.
It is important to note that earlier this year, during the 2024 Policy Meeting, the issue of the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions was thoroughly discussed. The consensus reached was to establish the minimum admission age at 16 years for the upcoming academic session. To facilitate this change, a deadline was established for December 31, 2024, by which universities were expected to finalize their admission processes.
This development has ignited a range of reactions from parents and other stakeholders, prompting a lively discussion about the implications of this decision. While some individuals express support for the new policy, others have voiced concerns and differing opinions regarding its potential impact.
In response to these discussions, JAMB’s Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, provided clarification on Thursday. He explained that due to certain universities extending their admission periods through July 2025, these institutions will be able to enroll students who turn 16 by the specified date in August 2025. Benjamin emphasized that this initiative aims to promote fairness in the admissions process. He stated, “This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured.” Furthermore, he reassured that any institution that chooses to enforce its own requirement of applicants being 16 years old by the end of 2024 is completely within its rights to do so, thereby maintaining institutional autonomy in the admission process.
