The Federal Government has formally declared 16 years as the minimum entry age for admission into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, warning that the directive is non-negotiable.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday during the opening session of the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa stressed that any student below the age of 16 would not be considered for admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education, regardless of academic performance.
According to the Minister, the minimum admission age into tertiary institutions in Nigeria remains 16 years, and this position is not up for debate.
He also issued a stern warning to tertiary institution heads, cautioning them against conducting admissions outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS), the official platform approved by JAMB for admissions.
“Any admission conducted outside of CAPS will be considered illegal. Institutions and officials involved in such actions will face prosecution,” Alausa added.
The enforcement of age limits and CAPS-based processing is aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and standardisation in the nation’s admission process.
With this declaration, stakeholders in the education sector, especially parents and school administrators, are expected to comply strictly with the new age policy and CAPS protocol.
