FG Reverses Stance on Age Limit for Admission to Higher Institutions

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has announced that tertiary institutions will admit candidates from the age of 16 for the 2024 session. This change comes just hours after an earlier directive requiring candidates to be 18 years or older for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The announcement was made during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday. The initial directive faced strong opposition from education stakeholders, including heads of tertiary institutions, registrars, and admission officers, who voiced their concerns loudly during the meeting.

Responding to the backlash, Mamman highlighted that the law mandates children should be in school until 18, following a structured educational timeline: six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school, and three years in senior secondary school. However, in light of the stakeholders’ appeals, he conceded that candidates aged 16 and above will be eligible for admission this year, with the new age requirement taking effect from next year.

More updates to follow.