The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has introduced new rules to screen exceptional candidates under 16 years old seeking university admission in the 2025/2026 academic session.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, announced the measures during a virtual meeting with vice chancellors, warning against what he called “academic abuse”, admitting emotionally unready children into tertiary institutions.
To qualify, underage applicants must attain a UTME score of at least 320, 80 percent in post-UTME, and 80 percent in a single sitting of WAEC or NECO. And Candidates who combine results from different exam bodies will not be considered.
JAMB, noted that the new policy aims to protect students’ psychological well-being and uphold academic standards across the country.
Oloyede also disclosed that Four institutions , including the University of Jos, Osun State University, and the Air Force Institute of Technology universities have opted not to admit any underage candidates at all , and warned parents against pushing unprepared children into university life, stressing the need for maturity, not just academic scores.
The Board disclosed that out of more than 38,000 underage applicants, only 599 met the minimum UTME requirement. However, it emphasized that meeting the score alone does not guarantee admission.
A 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission was inaugurated to oversee the screening process, which will take place in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.
