By John Umeh
In a decisive move to uphold academic standards and safeguard the wellbeing of young candidates, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rolled out a comprehensive set of criteria for under-16 applicants seeking university admission. The announcement follows a federal policy establishing 16 as the minimum age for tertiary education entry, with only extremely exceptional cases considered for early admission.
Rigorous Academic Benchmarks
Under-16 candidates must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for admission:
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UTME Score: Minimum of 320 out of 400 (80%)
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Post-UTME: Minimum score of 80%
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Senior Secondary Certificate (WAEC or NECO): At least 80% in a single sitting (equivalent to 24 out of 30 points) — combining results from different exam bodies is strictly prohibited
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Subject Requirements:
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Science students: Mathematics must be among the top-scoring subjects
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Arts students: English must be included among top-scoring subjects
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Enhanced Screening Process
Even in institutions where Post-UTME has been waived for regular candidates, under-16 applicants must undergo a dedicated Post-UTME screening. JAMB will compile and forward the records of candidates meeting all criteria for further evaluation.
Multi-Layered Assessments for Holistic Readiness
To ensure emotional and psychological readiness alongside academic excellence, JAMB has introduced additional evaluation layers:
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Affective and psychomotor assessments — evaluating emotional maturity and coordination — will now be part of the screening
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A 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, chaired by the JAMB Registrar, will oversee these screenings across Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri
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A specialized subcommittee led by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja—a former Minister of Sports and expert in special education—is tasked with developing the psychomotor and affective assessment framework within one week
From Thousands to Few: A Rarity Among the Gifted
Out of more than 38,000 underage applicants, only 599 candidates scored 320 or higher in UTME — qualifying them for possible waiver consideration. However, meeting that threshold does not guarantee admission; only those who pass the multi-faceted screening will be eligible.
Institutional Discretion and Enforcement
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JAMB has removed all under-16 candidates from the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS); only institutions endorsed by JAMB may admit them. Others risk sanctions for non-compliance
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Four universities have explicitly declared they will refuse underage admissions under any circumstances:
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Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
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Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
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University of Jos
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Osun State University
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Addressing a Deeper Cultural Concern
JAMB’s move is partly aimed at curbing harmful educational trends such as skipping grades, early enrollment, and the proliferation of “miracle” tutorial centers—practices often driven by parental ambition rather than genuine readiness.
Professor Oloyede emphasized the board’s priority: protecting children’s psychological development and the integrity of education, urging parents and institutions to allow maturity to align with academic progress.
In Summary
JAMB’s newly unveiled criteria reflect a calibrated stance—balancing respect for extraordinary academic achievement with a steadfast commitment to student wellbeing. By enforcing rigorous thresholds in academic performance, emotional readiness, and institutional compliance, the board seeks to ensure that only truly capable under-16 candidates are considered for early admission — and only under conditions that secure their long-term success.
