Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant policy clarification, the Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed that candidates must be at least 18 years old before they can be admitted into any tertiary institution across the country. The announcement, made by Education Minister Tahir Mamman during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, underscores the government’s commitment to standardizing the age of entry into higher education.
Mamman disclosed that the government has instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) not to permit underage students to sit for their examinations. The policy aims to ensure that all students undergo the appropriate developmental stages before advancing to higher education.
“It is 18 years,” Mamman stated unequivocally. “What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year to serve as a notice for parents.
JAMB will admit students who are below that age for this year, but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age, which is 18.”
This directive is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations that have long been in place, according to Mamman.
He explained that when the standard educational timeline is followed—from early childhood education through primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary school—students would naturally be around 17 and a half years old by the time they complete their secondary education.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time,” the Minister emphasized. “Even basically, if you compute the number of years pupils and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.”
Mamman stressed that NECO and WAEC will no longer allow students who have not completed the requisite number of years at each educational level to write their examinations. This move is intended to curb the increasing trend of underage candidates seeking early admission into tertiary institutions.
“In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth, will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations,” Mamman declared. “In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”
This policy announcement has sparked discussions among parents, educators, and students, with many acknowledging the need for a uniform standard that aligns with global educational practices. The Federal Government’s stance is clear: maturity and proper academic preparation are critical for success in higher education.
