FG withdraws ban on underage admissions

The Federal Government and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has withdrawn its newly announced ban on admitting candidates under 18 years old after facing strong protests from stakeholders.

During a rowdy session at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University highlighted that many students aged 16 had already written the JAMB exams before the new regulation was announced.

After listening to the concerns, JAMB registrar, Ishaq Omoyele agreed to rescind the ban, stating that the new minimum admission age requirement will now come into effect in 2025.

Oloyede said, “At the time they (candidates) were taking the examinations, they were not aware. So if we want to enforce it then it should be for subsequent years.”

In a tweet, the examination body wrote:

“Candidates who are 16 years old would be considered for admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic year, however , the entry age would be 18 years as from next academic year”.

Candidates who are 16 years old would be considered for admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2024 academic year, however , the entry age would be 18 years as from next academic year.

— JAMB (@JAMBHQ) July 18, 2024