JAMB Defends 16-Year Admission Age, Rejects Calls For Review

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JAMB insists policy is backed By Education Laws, Not Arbitrary Decisions

JAMB maintains the view that Maturity Crucial For Academic Success, Allows Exceptions For Gifted Students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has defended the 16-year minimum age requirement for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, insisting that the policy is rooted in existing education laws and supported by years of evidence linking maturity with academic success.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the clarification on Thursday during a virtual dialogue organised by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria, themed “2026 Admission Policy Review and JAMB Scorecard: A Conversation with the Registrar.”

The defence comes amid renewed calls from some stakeholders for a downward review of the minimum admission age.

Benjamin said the age benchmark was neither arbitrary nor a recent policy, stressing that it aligns with the National Policy on Education, the Universal Basic Education framework and Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education structure.

“We didn’t just wake up one night and say it must be 16 years. If you examine the decisions of the National Council on Education, the Universal Basic Education Act and the National Policy on Education, you will find clearly defined age expectations for primary, secondary and university education,” he said.

According to him, the board reviews every admission exercise to assess challenges and formulate policies that improve the admission process.

He explained that JAMB’s assessment over the years had consistently shown that maturity plays a critical role in students’ academic success and overall development.

“Beyond academics, education is a serious enterprise. Maturity plays a significant role in who you are, what you want to achieve and how you achieve it,” Benjamin stated.

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The JAMB spokesman, however, clarified that the policy provides room for exceptionally gifted candidates who can demonstrate extraordinary academic ability.

He said such candidates must meet a higher performance threshold before they can be considered for admission below the prescribed age.

“We do not want to exclude gifted children. If a candidate demonstrates that he or she belongs to that category, the person will be given the opportunity,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with global practices, Benjamin noted that exceptional academic prodigies exist worldwide but cautioned that such cases remain rare.

He also disclosed that a foreign university once sought clarification from JAMB after questioning how a Nigerian student attained qualifications at an unusually young age.

According to him, the institution in London was surprised by the candidate’s academic record and requested an explanation of Nigeria’s admission framework.

Benjamin said JAMB explained the circumstances surrounding the admission, adding that the university accepted the explanation.

He maintained that the board would continue to enforce the 16-year minimum admission age while making exceptions only for genuinely gifted candidates who satisfy the prescribed criteria.

“The policy remains our guide, but where a candidate has demonstrated exceptional capacity, we can justify such admission based on the established provisions for gifted students,” he added.

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