FG Sets 16 as Minimum Age for University Admission in Nigeria

The Federal Government has declared 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, reinforcing a long-standing regulation now backed by strict enforcement. The announcement was made during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja, where top education stakeholders convened to reform the nation’s admission processes.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, affirmed that “the official age of 16 set by the government is not negotiable,” underscoring the directive as a federal mandate rather than an advisory guideline. He stressed that any admissions conducted outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), JAMB’s official admissions platform, would henceforth be considered illegal and subject to prosecution.

Institutions found violating the policy, particularly those offering unauthorized admissions to underage candidates, will face severe legal consequences, with heads of such institutions held personally accountable. The enforcement aims to standardize admission procedures across Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education while combating the endemic issue of admission fraud.

As JAMB’s 2025 policy framework unfolds, stakeholders await further clarity on the operational measures that will guide the nationwide implementation of this age restriction.