The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a new set of rigorous screening measures for exceptionally brilliant candidates under the age of 16 seeking university admission in the 2025/2026 academic session. The move is designed to address growing concerns over the psychological readiness and emotional maturity of underage students entering Nigerian tertiary institutions.
According to JAMB, under-16 applicants must now meet three tough academic conditions: scoring a minimum of 320 in the UTME, securing at least 80% in the post-UTME conducted specifically for them, and obtaining 80% in a single sitting of either WAEC or NECO. For science students, mathematics must be among their top subjects, while English is mandatory for arts students. Mixing results from different examination bodies, such as combining WAEC and NECO, has been banned for these candidates.
The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while unveiling the policy in a virtual meeting with vice chancellors and heads of admissions, said the new measures are in line with government policy, which sets the minimum age for university admission at 16, with waivers only for truly exceptional students. He stressed that the intention is not to bar gifted students under 16, but to ensure that only those with proven academic brilliance and psychological maturity are considered.
“We are not closing the door on under-16 candidates, but they must go through a process that truly verifies their readiness—not just intellectually, but emotionally and socially,” Oloyede stated.
To this end, JAMB has formed a 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, chaired by Oloyede himself, to screen qualified candidates across three centres: Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri. The screening will not only evaluate academic scores but also include affective and psychomotor assessments—marking a significant shift toward a more holistic admission process.
In addition, a subcommittee of education experts, led by former Sports Minister and special education authority, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has been given one week to design the screening template that will guide these assessments.
Out of over 38,000 underage applicants, only 599 met the minimum UTME score requirement of 320, making them eligible for further consideration. Yet, even they must pass all levels of the screening process, including a special post-UTME, with a score not below 80%. Universities will then forward these results to JAMB by mid-September for final evaluation.
Already, four universities—Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University—have declared that they will not admit underage candidates under any circumstances. JAMB has also removed all under-16 candidates from its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), insisting that no institution may admit such candidates without the Board’s clearance.
Oloyede emphasized that the desperation of parents is one of the driving forces behind the underage admission issue, often spurred by cultural pressure and a flawed desire to showcase early academic achievement. He pointed to systemic issues such as skipping primary six and the proliferation of miracle tutorial centres as other contributors.
“Parents want to brag about their children gaining admission at 14, but what we’re seeing is that many of these children are not emotionally equipped to thrive in a university setting,” he said. “This policy is about safeguarding the students’ well-being and upholding the integrity of our education system.”
JAMB is urging all stakeholders—parents, institutions, and policymakers—to support the new guidelines, emphasizing that the changes aim to ensure only well-rounded, truly prepared candidates make it into Nigeria’s universities.
“This is not just about exam scores. It’s about protecting our children’s future and building a more credible educational system for everyone,” Oloyede added.