The Federal Government of Nigeria, led by the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has officially abolished the 18-year minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
The announcement was made by Dr. Alausa during his first ministerial press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday. The minister also indicated that his administration may review the broader education policy framework for Nigeria.
Despite this reversal, Dr. Alausa maintained that the government’s recent decision to nullify over 22,700 degree certificates obtained from “fake” universities in neighboring Togo and Benin Republic remains unchanged. He affirmed that such degrees will not be recognized within Nigeria.
Background on the 18-Year Admission Age Benchmark
The age restriction was first introduced in July, when the previous Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to enforce an 18-year minimum age limit for applicants seeking admission to Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Prof. Mamman announced this policy at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held at the Body of Benchers’ auditorium in Abuja, noting concerns over the admission of underage students and the negative impact it could have on the higher education system.
This announcement was met with immediate backlash from education stakeholders and attendees at the event, sparking protests and calls for the policy to be reconsidered. The National Assembly soon intervened, pushing for a more flexible approach.
Federal Government’s U-Turn on the Policy
Under pressure, Prof. Mamman eventually revised his stance, allowing applicants aged 16 and above to be eligible for the 2024 admission cycle. However, he insisted that the 18-year minimum age benchmark would be enforced from 2025.
With Dr. Alausa’s recent reversal of this benchmark, students under the age of 18 will once again be eligible to pursue higher education without restriction, marking a significant policy shift in Nigeria’s education sector.
Stay tuned for further updates.
