Government Sets 18 as Minimum Age for University Admission
The Federal Government has announced that candidates under 18 years old will no longer be admitted to tertiary institutions. This directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during the 2024 Policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja on Thursday.
The announcement sparked a variety of responses from vice-chancellors, rectors, and registrars present at the meeting. Minister Mamman expressed concern over some parents pushing their young children into higher education prematurely.
The minister explained that the 18-year age requirement aligns with the 6-3-3-4 educational system. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Education is introducing skill-based programs for primary school students to ensure that those unable to gain immediate entry into tertiary institutions can still acquire valuable skills.
