The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will conduct a special screening exercise for over 500 outstanding candidates under the age of 16 seeking admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The screening, scheduled from September 22 to 26, 2025, aims to ensure that only exceptional and well-prepared underage candidates are considered for admission.
According to JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, three centers have been designated for the process: Lagos (397 candidates), Owerri (136 candidates), and Abuja (66 candidates).
To be eligible, candidates must meet stringent academic benchmarks, including scoring at least 320 in UTME, achieving a minimum of 80% in post-UTME, and securing at least 80% (24/30 points) in a single WAEC or NECO sitting.
The assessment will include subject-specific tests and a brief oral interview, with JAMB requesting detailed results from WAEC to verify the eligibility of some shortlisted candidates before interviews.
This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Education’s policy setting 16 as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions, aiming to balance academic excellence with cognitive maturity and protect young learners from undue parental pressure.
Notably, four universities have declared they will not admit underage candidates under any circumstances: Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University.
