JAMB extends the 16-year-old admission age limit deadline till August 2025.

Tertiary institutions are authorized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, or JAMB, to admit 16-year-old applicants till August 2025.

The Board clarified in a statement that the decision was made to maintain equity because some institutions’ 2024 admissions processes would continue until August 2025.

At the 2024 Policy Meeting, the minimum age for admission to the country’s postsecondary institutions was discussed and determined to be 16 years old for the 2024–2025 academic year. The deadline was then set for December 31, 2024.

“JAMB has taken cognizance that, for various reasons, some institutions expect the 2024/2025 admission to run through July 2025,” the statement partially states.

“Without compromising the standard or infringing on the individual institution’s admission policy, the Board has now decided to allow any willing institution to admit candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st of August 2025, as long as the standards set by the institution qualify such candidates but couldn’t be admitted only because of age.

“This is without prejudice to the decision of any institution that might have, on its own, decided on the minimum age of not less than 16 years, which remains sacrosanct.

“By this development, institutions are requested to harvest from their CAPS and send the list of candidates who would be 16 years of age between 1st of January and 31st of August 2025 who are eligible for admission (if any), not later than a week from the date on this letter to enable final decision.”

PATIENCE OLUMATI