FG approves 16 as new entry age for tertiary institutions
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa
The Federal Government has officially set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the new directive on Monday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Dr. Alausa explained that the previous age requirement of 18, introduced at last year’s policy meeting, has now been reversed. He emphasized that all institutions must comply with the new guideline, warning that any violation would attract strict sanctions.
He also reaffirmed the government’s insistence on the compulsory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for all admission processes, stating that it is essential for curbing age-related fraud and other malpractices.
In addition, the Minister cautioned against granting admissions outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), stressing that such actions are illegal and will be met with appropriate penalties.
