Federal Government announces 16 as the minimum age for admission into universities and polytechnics.
Federal Government announces 16 as the minimum age for admission into universities and polytechnics.
The Federal Government has formally set 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the directive on Tuesday during the ongoing Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
He emphasized that the age requirement is mandatory and must be strictly enforced by all institutions nationwide.
Dr. Tunji Alausa also delivered a firm warning to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, cautioning them against admitting students outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). He described any attempt to circumvent or operate outside the CAPS framework as illegal and a clear violation of established admission guidelines.
The Minister stressed that CAPS remains the only legitimate platform for processing admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. He further warned that any institution found engaging in unauthorized or manual admissions would face serious consequences.
According to him, heads of institutions who bypass CAPS or manipulate the admission process in any way will not only be sanctioned but also prosecuted in accordance with the law.
This, he said, is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and standardization in the nation’s higher education admission process.
