The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has agreed to set the minimum admission age to tertiary institutions at 16 years for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Initially, Mamman had set the age at 18, but he reversed his decision following protests from stakeholders at the 2024 policy meeting organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The minister conceded after it was argued that students under 18 had already registered, sat for, and passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and were awaiting admission.
The meeting, held on Thursday in Abuja, included the JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, vice chancellors, registrars, and other stakeholders.
Professor Kayode Ijiadunola, who led the motion against the minister’s initial pronouncement, proposed 16 as the minimum age requirement for admission, receiving overwhelming support from other heads, registrars, and admission officers.
“What happens to those who have written this year’s exams and passed? We reject 18 years as the minimum age requirement and propose 16 years,” he said.
As the hall erupted in support, the Registrar of JAMB questioned the rush of parents and candidates.
“They have taken examinations, and at that time they were not told or aware, so if we want to enforce it, it should be from subsequent years,” Professor Oloyede said.
In response, the minister stated, “I can work with that, but I want to remind you that even this argument cannot stand if we go by the law which states 6-3-3-4 as our education system. However, for practical reasons, for this year, I will allow it.”
Amidst resounding applause, Professor Oloyede reiterated, “We thank the minister for conceding, but from next year, we will enforce it.”
Earlier in his address as chairman of the 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) policy meeting, Professor Mamman had called for the enforcement of 18 years as the new minimum admission age into tertiary institutions in the country.