JAMB establishes admission guidelines for 599 underage candidates
JAMB establishes admission guidelines for 599 underage candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday outlined specific admission criteria for underage candidates who participated in the most recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
A total of 599 candidates scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME but were deemed ineligible for admission due to not meeting the minimum age requirement of 16 years.
To address this, JAMB inaugurated a committee tasked with reviewing and overseeing the admission process for the affected candidates. According to the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the final list of those who meet the new criteria will be released between now and September.
Speaking during the committee’s inaugural meeting in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, Prof. Oloyede explained that the candidates’ school certificate results would carry significant weight—requiring a minimum score of 80 percent. Additionally, institutions are expected to submit the post-UTME scores of the candidates by September 16.
He added that any candidate who scored below 80 in the post-UTME was already out of it.
“We know that 16 years is the minimum for admissions, but we should be able to pick one or two that are very brilliant to encourage them,” he said.
Oloyede said that the committee would decide the modalities for determining “specially gifted candidates.”
He said, “These are the 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The committee will determine the admission dates, procedures, and the selection of candidates. Their focus will be on admitting exceptionally talented individuals into tertiary institutions as a means of encouraging academic excellence.
The JAMB registrar highlighted that the committee meeting included virtual participation from vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities, regulatory bodies, key stakeholders, and education experts. He also mentioned that the panel would convene in Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri.
Oloyede advised parents against rushing to enroll their children at an early age, emphasizing that youngsters need time to grow and mature naturally. He further warned against the use of bribery to secure admission, describing it as a dangerous introduction of the younger generation to criminal behavior.
The registrar assured that the admission process would be transparent and fair, given the high caliber of the committee members.
