In a decisive move to standardize entry requirements into higher education, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has officially declared that 16 years is now the minimum age for admission into all tertiary institutions across the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Alausa emphasized that the directive is binding on all institutions and must be strictly adhered to.
“The issue of age at entry into tertiary institutions has generated much debate, but our position is clear,” the minister stated.
“The entry age for admission into tertiary institutions is now officially pegged at 16 years.”
He noted that the decision was informed by educational research and psychological considerations.
“Sixteen years of age for admission is non-negotiable. Institutions are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance,” he declared.
The new directive reverses a previous policy introduced by former education minister Tahir Mamman in July 2024, which raised the minimum entry age to 18. However, that decision was overturned by an October 2024 court ruling in Delta State, which found that JAMB lacked the legal authority to impose such a requirement. Although JAMB appealed the judgment and sought a stay of execution, Alausa’s announcement brings renewed clarity and administrative direction.
While reinforcing the 16-year threshold, the minister acknowledged that special cases would be considered under strict conditions.
“We understand there may be a few exceptional cases, and provisions have already been made for legitimate exceptions, especially for gifted children or those with accelerated educational progress,” he said.
“However, this must be demonstrated, documented, and justified.”
He also warned against falsification of age records by candidates or their guardians.
“The ministry is firm in its resolve, and those attempting to circumvent this policy by altering age records will be sanctioned accordingly,” Alausa cautioned.
With this policy, the Federal Ministry of Education aims to eliminate ambiguity around admission age, align with international best practices, and promote both academic readiness and institutional credibility.
