JAMB defends 16 age of admission, rejects calls for review

,.. He says policy is supported by education laws, not arbitrary decisions

… Insists that maturity is crucial to academic success, allows exceptions for gifted students

Daud Olatunji

The Joint Committee on Admissions and Matriculation has defended the minimum age requirement of 16 for admission to Nigerian tertiary institutions, insisting that the policy is rooted in existing education laws and supported by years of evidence linking high school graduation with academic success.

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

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

Benjamin said the age parameter is neither arbitrary nor a recent policy, stressing that it is in line with Nigeria’s National Education Policy, Universal Basic Education Framework and 6-3-3-4 Education Structure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We don’t want to exclude gifted children. If a candidate proves that he belongs to that category, he will be given the opportunity,” he said.

Drawing comparisons to global practices, Benjamin noted that outstanding academic prodigies exist around the world, but cautioned that such cases remain rare.

He also revealed that a foreign university once sought clarification from JAMB after inquiring how a Nigerian student obtained qualifications at an unusually young age.

According to him, the London institution was surprised by the candidate’s academic record and sought clarification on Nigeria’s admissions 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 minimum entry age of 16, making exceptions only for truly gifted candidates who meet the prescribed criteria.

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

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