The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates below the age of 16 may be considered for admission into tertiary institutions if they score 80% (320/400) or above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Key Highlights:
Reversal of 18-year Age Benchmark: The mandatory 18-year admission age, introduced by former Minister Tahir Mamman, has been overturned. Education Minister Olatunji Alausa reinstated the 16-year benchmark, aligning with previous policies.
Exceptional Under-16 Candidates: JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, clarified that while 16 remains the standard age, gifted students below 16 will be allowed if they prove their academic excellence through multiple assessments (UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, GCE O/Level).
New Mock UTME for Underage Candidates:
JAMB has introduced a mock UTME specifically for under-16 candidates to test their academic ability.
This mock exam is not for admission purposes but to assess readiness.
JAMB’s Concerns Over Underage Admissions
Private universities have been admitting underage students, but many struggle, with 80% transferring to other programs due to poor performance.
Manipulation of birth records is a rising issue, where parents reduce their children’s ages for early admission but later adjust them for NYSC eligibility.
2024 UTME Registration & Exam Dates
Form Sales: January 31 – March 5, 2024
Mock UTME: February 23, 2024
Main UTME: March 8, 2024
While the age benchmark remains 16, JAMB’s new policy ensures that truly exceptional young candidates are not excluded from higher education opportunities.