The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced stringent admission criteria for 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), signaling a strong move to balance academic excellence with emotional and mental maturity.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed this during the presentation of the 2025 policy document on admissions held in Abuja, where stakeholders across Nigeria’s tertiary education system converged to chart the path for the new admission cycle.
The board said it received over 38,000 applications from candidates under the age of 16, the official minimum age for admission into Nigerian universities. However, only 599 of them scored 320 and above — a benchmark that will now serve as the first eligibility requirement in a new four-layered screening system.
“These children have shown academic excellence, but the question remains — are they emotionally and mentally prepared for university life?” Oloyede said.
Strict Academic Conditions
To be considered for admission, each underage candidate must:
Score a minimum of 320 in UTME
Attain at least 80% in Post-UTME conducted independently by universities
Secure a minimum of 80% in a single sitting of either WAEC or NECO
Have subject combinations that include Mathematics for science-based courses and English for arts-based disciplines
Oloyede emphasized that these academic thresholds must be met without combining results from different examination bodies.
New Committee for Psychosocial Screening
Beyond academic records, the board has constituted a 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, chaired by Prof. Oloyede himself, to evaluate the psychosocial readiness of candidates.
A subcommittee led by former Minister of Sports and special education expert, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has been tasked with designing a screening framework that assesses the affective and psychomotor maturity of the shortlisted candidates. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations within a week.
“Academic excellence alone is no longer enough. We must assess emotional stability, adaptability, and readiness for the rigors of university life,” Adedoja said.
Screening Locations and Timeline
According to the board, the screenings will take place in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri. Candidates who scale through will then be guided to apply to eligible institutions.
Universities are expected to conclude all screenings and submit results to JAMB by September 16, 2025. Any candidate who scores below 80% in the post-UTME will be disqualified, irrespective of UTME performance.
Institutions That Will Not Admit Underage Candidates
JAMB also disclosed that four institutions have already opted out of considering any underage applicants under any circumstance. These include:
Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
University of Jos
Osun State University
These institutions have cited concerns about the maturity levels of young entrants and the pressures of higher education.
CAPS Restrictions and Sanctions
All underage candidates have been removed from JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) pending the outcome of the screening. JAMB warned that any institution that admits underage candidates without express approval will face sanctions.
The board clarified that this initiative is not an endorsement of underage admissions but a temporary measure to address the increasing trend of desperate parents forcing their children into university prematurely.
“Let us be clear — this is not a policy shift,” Oloyede stressed. “It is a response to a growing crisis of desperation. Education is a marathon, not a sprint.”
The move by JAMB has stirred conversations across the education sector, with many applauding the board’s attempt to balance merit and maturity.
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