FG Sets 16 as Minimum Admission Age for Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government has declared 16 years as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s universities and other tertiary institutions.

Speaking at the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting in Abuja, Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa said the new guideline is binding and must be strictly enforced.

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He warned that admitting students below the approved age violates national education policy, and institutions flouting the rule would face sanctions.

The minister also reiterated that all admissions must go through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). Any attempt to bypass the platform, he said, would render the admission invalid and attract legal consequences for the institution and its leadership.