The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has authorized tertiary institutions across the country to admit candidates who will reach the age of 16 by August 31, 2025, for the 2024/25 academic session.
This decision comes after deliberations on the minimum age requirement at the 2024 Policy Meeting.
In a press release, Muhammed Babaji, JAMB’s Director of Admissions, clarified that candidates meeting the admission criteria set by their preferred institutions should not be denied entry based solely on age if they will turn 16 by August 31, 2025.
He stressed the importance of flexibility in the admission process, stating, “The Board acknowledges that some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission process to extend into July 2025. Without compromising standards or infringing on individual institutions’ admission policies, the Board has decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by August 31, 2025.”
This adjustment, according to Babaji, respects institutions’ autonomy while ensuring fairness. The Board emphasized that institutions maintaining the traditional minimum age requirement of 16 years can continue to do so, as it remains unchanged. “This is without prejudice to any institution that has set its minimum age requirement of 16 years, which remains unchanged,” Babaji added.
JAMB further instructed institutions to gather and submit details of candidates who will turn 16 between January 1 and August 31, 2025, through their Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) within a week of the announcement. This step aims to ensure transparency and fairness, especially for candidates whose 2024 admission process extends into 2025.
The Board reiterated its commitment to upholding standards while allowing flexibility for institutions that require additional time for their admission processes. “Those whose 2024 admissions extend until August 2025 should not be unduly favoured,” Babaji noted.
In related news, other developments in the educational sector include 256 students from the University of Ilorin graduating with first-class degrees and TETFund’s pledge to support the African University of Aviation. Institutions are also dealing with ongoing concerns surrounding agreements with university unions and endorsement campaigns within the academic community.
