The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that tertiary institutions in Nigeria can admit students who will turn 16 years old by August 31, 2025, for the 2024/2025 academic session.
This flexibility, as outlined in a circular issued on Thursday, permits institutions to enrol qualified candidates who meet all other admission criteria, regardless of their age at the time of application.
The Board explained that the decision was made to ensure fairness, particularly as some institutions are expected to conclude their 2024/2025 admissions as late as July 2025.
The previous age cut-off was set for December 31, 2024, but has now been extended for candidates who will meet the 16-year age requirement by the new August deadline.
Part of the circular read: “Recall that the issue of the minimum age for admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions was deliberated and decided at the 2024 Policy Meeting to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session. Subsequently, the cut-off date was put on the 31st of December 2024.
“The Board has taken cognizance that, due to different reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025.
“Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution’s admission policy, the Board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, so long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidate but couldn’t be admitted only because of age.
“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years which remains sacrosanct.
“By this development, you are requested to harvest from your CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.
“NOTE: This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured. Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so.”