Federal Government Considers 18 Years as Entry Age for Tertiary Institutions, Education Minister Reveals**News:** The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that the Federal Government is contemplating setting 18 years as the minimum entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions.

Speaking during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja, Mamman expressed concerns over underage students contributing to issues within higher institutions, emphasizing the need for a more mature student population to manage university affairs effectively.The proposition garnered support from the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who hailed the move as a step in the right direction.

Prof. Osodeke highlighted the historical precedence of age benchmarks in educational systems and stressed the importance of regulators enforcing such standards. He echoed Mamman’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for maturity among students entering tertiary institutions.Additionally, Mamman commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for conducting a seamless examination process, attributing the reduced cases of malpractice to the adoption of technology.

The minister emphasized the importance of skills acquisition in preparing youths for the future, underscoring the need for meaningful engagement beyond formal education. Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, lauded JAMB’s standards and reliability in conducting exams, noting the expansion of UTME to international centers like Saudi Arabia as a testament to its effectiveness and objectivity.