The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new, more rigorous admission requirements for exceptionally brilliant candidates below the age of 16 seeking entry into Nigerian universities.
To qualify, such candidates must score a minimum of 320 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), along with meeting additional academic benchmarks and undergoing thorough screening.
The announcement was made as JAMB inaugurated a 24-member committee, chaired by its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to screen 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME.
Speaking during a virtual meeting with vice chancellors and heads of admissions, Oloyede stressed that the Board would no longer condone what he described as “academic abuse”—the pressure placed on children who are emotionally and psychologically unprepared for the demands of university life. He noted that while over 38,000 underage candidates applied for admission this year, only 599 achieved scores above 320, hence the need for tighter controls.
The new policy follows a Federal Government directive reaffirming 16 as the minimum age for university admission. However, allowances may be made for candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the policy at JAMB’s 2025 Policy Meeting, emphasizing the importance of aligning intellectual readiness with emotional maturity.
Oloyede explained that underage candidates must meet specific academic requirements: a minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400, at least 80 percent in the post-UTME, and a similar benchmark in a single sitting of WAEC or NECO. He added that combining results from multiple examination bodies will not be accepted. Science candidates must present mathematics among their strongest subjects, while arts students must include English.
The Registrar also directed institutions to conduct a dedicated post-UTME for under-16 candidates, even if the school has waived such exams for other applicants. This special assessment is expected to test the academic strength and maturity of underage candidates to determine whether they merit early admission.
Meanwhile, several institutions, including the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University, maintain policies that disallow the admission of underage candidates altogether.
