The Federal Government has reaffirmed that 16 years is the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, declaring the policy final and non-negotiable.
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The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known during the 2025 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja. He stressed that all institutions must strictly adhere to the age requirement as part of efforts to maintain standards in the education sector.
Dr. Alausa also warned that any tertiary institution conducting admissions outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would face legal consequences. He stated that the CAPS platform remains the only recognized channel for processing admissions in the country.
The Minister further cautioned heads of institutions against involvement in admission fraud, including racketeering and manipulation of student data. He said the Federal Ministry of Education would not hesitate to prosecute institutions or individuals found guilty of violating admission guidelines.
The policy meeting brought together key stakeholders, including vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts, to review and set guidelines for the upcoming admission cycle.
