In a decisive policy shift, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially declared 16 years as the minimum age for admission into all tertiary institutions across the country. The announcement was made on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the opening session of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Policy Meeting in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the new age benchmark is final and non-negotiable, warning that any institution admitting candidates below this age will face strict sanctions. He also reiterated that all admissions must be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), and any off-CAPS entries will be deemed illegal.
“This decision is based on the need to protect the mental and emotional development of students and to uphold standards within our educational system,” Alausa stated.
The policy is part of broader reforms aimed at sanitizing Nigeria’s tertiary education system, ensuring academic maturity, and aligning with global best practices. It also reverses a previous proposal to peg the minimum age at 18, which had sparked widespread debate.
Stakeholders—including vice-chancellors, provosts, and rectors—were present at the meeting and were urged to uphold transparency and accountability in the admission process.
The new age requirement takes immediate effect from the 2025/2026 academic session.
