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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed plans to evaluate over 500 outstanding candidates under the age of 16 who are seeking admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The screening will take place from September 22 to 26 at three locations: Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri.
During a virtual meeting on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, shared specifics regarding the screening process for underage applicants. He noted that Lagos would accommodate 397 candidates, Owerri 136, and Abuja 66.
Out of 41,027 underage candidates who participated in the 2025 UTME, only a limited number met the initial eligibility criteria.
Oloyede emphasized that the screening’s purpose is to select well-prepared and truly exceptional candidates, stating, “People have been doing it in other parts of the world.
We are not reinventing the wheel.” Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a member of the subcommittee, mentioned that the assessment would include subject-specific examinations followed by a short oral interview.
He also indicated that WAEC result verification would be performed for those shortlisted.
The initiative aims to balance academic performance with cognitive maturity, deter age falsification, and shield children from undue pressure from parents.
Only candidates achieving a minimum score of 320 in UTME, 80 percent in post-UTME, and 80 percent (24 out of 30 points) in a single WAEC or NECO examination will be considered.
This initiative comes in response to concerns regarding the 599 candidates who scored above 300 in the 2025 UTME yet did not meet the official minimum admission age of 16, prompting the establishment of the screening committee.
The initiative is in line with the Ministry of Education’s policy regarding age requirements for tertiary admissions and seeks to ensure that admitted students are mentally and psychologically prepared for higher education.
