The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has cautioned tertiary institutions, particularly universities, against admitting underaged students, labeling such practices as “illegal”.
Speaking at the seventh biennial conference of Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Lagos, Oloyede emphasized the need to halt irregular admissions for the sake of accountability, data protection, and national integrity.
He recounted a recent incident involving a 15-year-old applying for a postgraduate course abroad, prompting questions about Nigeria’s educational standards. Oloyede stressed the responsibility of state-owned universities to address these issues, noting the significant number of admissions granted annually.
Highlighting concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s education system, Oloyede urged universities to uphold standards and refrain from illegal admissions, including those of diploma students, which he argued could undermine educational quality and credibility.