The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed its decision to retain 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions, insisting that the policy is supported by existing education laws and backed by evidence on students’ academic performance.
JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the position known on Thursday during a virtual dialogue organised by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN). The event, titled “2026 Admission Policy Review and JAMB Scorecard: A Conversation with the Registrar,” focused on issues affecting admissions into higher institutions.
Benjamin said the age requirement was not introduced arbitrarily but was based on provisions of the National Policy on Education, the Universal Basic Education framework and Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system.
According to him, decisions on admission policies are guided by resolutions of the National Council on Education and years of reviewing admission exercises.
He explained that after every admission cycle, JAMB evaluates the process to identify challenges and introduce measures that improve the system.
Benjamin noted that the board’s findings consistently show that maturity plays a significant role in students’ academic success and overall development.
He stressed that tertiary education requires more than intellectual ability, adding that emotional and psychological maturity are equally important for students to achieve their academic goals.
Despite the age requirement, Benjamin said JAMB provides an exception for exceptionally gifted candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic ability.
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He explained that such candidates must meet a clearly defined performance standard before they can be considered for admission below the age of 16.
According to him, the exception ensures that talented children are not denied opportunities to advance academically while preventing indiscriminate admission of underage candidates.
Benjamin added that many countries also make similar provisions for gifted learners, noting that exceptional ability, rather than age alone, justifies accelerated academic progression.
He also recalled a case where a university in London sought clarification from JAMB over the academic credentials of a Nigerian student whose age appeared unusually low for the qualification obtained.
Benjamin said the board explained the circumstances surrounding the student’s admission, which surprised the foreign institution.
He maintained that JAMB would continue to enforce the 16-year minimum admission age while allowing exceptional cases that meet the board’s established criteria.
