Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had on Thursday, July 18, banned admissions for candidates under the age of 18 into tertiary institutions in the country.
Mamman had made this announcement during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
As expected, this announcement elicited mixed reactions from vice-chancellors, rectors and registrars present at the meeting. The minister had meanwhile, lamented the pressure some parents, give their underage wards to get admission into tertiary institutions, stressing that the 18-year benchmark was still in line with the 6-3-3-4 system of education in the country.
What They’re Saying
Mamman was quoted as saying,
“JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions.”
The minister also revealed that the Federal Government was considering the adoption of 18 years as the legal entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.
Professor Mamman concluded his statement by adding that for those who will not be able to gain admission into tertiary institutions, the Ministry of Education would take skills to pupils as from primary school.
More details to come…
