The Federal Government has officially set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, warning that the policy is non-negotiable and must be strictly enforced.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced during the policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Declaring the meeting open, the Minister stressed that the age benchmark is now official and non-negotiable.
Dr. Alausa also warned that any admission process conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) would be deemed illegal.
He added that institutional heads involved in admission fraud or bypassing CAPS would face legal prosecution.
The issue of age eligibility for university admission has sparked ongoing debate, especially concerning the readiness of students under 18 for higher education.
The government’s new directive aims to provide clarity and enforce uniform standards across the education system.
(TVC)
