By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government has formally fixed the minimum entry age into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions at 16 years, declaring the policy non-negotiable.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that no candidate below the age of 16 will be admitted into any university, polytechnic, or college of education in the country. “The official entry age into tertiary institutions is 16, and that remains the law,” he said.
He further warned that all admissions must go through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Any admission conducted outside the CAPS framework, he stated, will be deemed illegal, and both institutions and individuals involved will face prosecution.
“We are serious about enforcing compliance,” the Minister said, stressing that heads of institutions found engaging in admission racketeering or fraudulent practices will be held accountable and prosecuted accordingly.
JAMB’s annual policy meeting is a platform where critical decisions regarding admission guidelines, cut-off marks, and institutional compliance are deliberated and adopted.