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Nigerian Minister Vows to Enforce 18-Year Admission Age for Tertiary Institutions

The Nigerian government has announced plans to enforce a law that requires students to be at least 18 years old before being admitted into tertiary institutions. The decision was announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at a 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions.

According to the minister, the recent enrollment of underage candidates has caused harm to the university and education system, requiring the enforcement of existing rules. He argued that students who are enrolled in primary school at the age of six and attend 12 years of education would reach 18 years old when entering tertiary institutions.

The minister directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to admit only students who have reached the age of 18 years into its 2024 admission process. “Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission,” he emphasized.

However, the decision was met with significant backlash from Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provost, and other stakeholders present at the meeting, who disagreed with the minister’s pronouncement. Despite the unrest, the minister maintained that the decision remained unchanged, urging institutions to stick to the laid-down requirements for admission processes.

In a warning, Mamman threatened to sanction anyone who infiltrates admissions outside of the Central Admissions Processing Systems (CAPS). The decision is aimed at standardizing the admission process and ensuring fair treatment for all students.

This major overhaul of the admission process is anticipated to have a significant impact on the education landscape, as it will affect the lives and futures of thousands of students. Whether this move will bring about more stability and transparency in the admission system only time will tell.