The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will screen over 500 outstanding candidates under the age of 16 who are seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The screening exercise will take place from September 22 to 26 at three designated centres: Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri. According to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Lagos will host 397 candidates, Owerri 136, and Abuja 66.
Out of the 41,027 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only a select few met the initial qualification criteria. Prof. Oloyede said the initiative was designed to identify “well-prepared and truly exceptional candidates,” noting that similar practices exist globally.
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a subcommittee member, revealed that the assessment will feature subject-specific tests, brief oral interviews, and WAEC result verification for shortlisted candidates.
To qualify, candidates must score at least 320 in UTME, 80% in post-UTME, and 80% (24/30 points) in a single WAEC or NECO sitting. The move aims to balance academic excellence with cognitive maturity, discourage age falsification, and protect children from excessive parental pressure.
The initiative follows concerns over 599 candidates who scored above 300 in the 2025 UTME but were below the official admission age of 16. It aligns with the Ministry of Education’s age policy for tertiary admission, ensuring that admitted students are mentally and psychologically prepared for higher education.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
