The Federal Government has announced that the minimum age for admission into any Nigerian tertiary institution is now officially set at 16 years.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the declaration while addressing participants at the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the age limit is non-negotiable, and stressed the importance of adhering strictly to the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). He warned that any admission processed outside CAPS would be deemed illegal, with offenders — including heads of institutions — facing prosecution.
“CAPS remains the only legal framework for conducting admissions in Nigeria,” the minister said. “Institutions must comply fully with its provisions, and no candidate below the age of 16 should be admitted into any tertiary programme.”
The directive comes amid broader efforts to reform and sanitize Nigeria’s higher education admission process, ensuring fairness, transparency, and legal compliance across all institutions.
