Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions will continue to meet a minimum age requirement of 16 years, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has confirmed, as the Board simultaneously unveiled a structural overhaul of how Colleges of Education admit students.
Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, addressed both policies during a Zoom dialogue organised by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria on Thursday, under the theme “2026 Admission Policy Review and JAMB Scorecard: A Conversation with the Registrar.”
Benjamin rejected suggestions that the age benchmark was introduced arbitrarily, pointing to its roots in Nigeria’s National Policy on Education, the Universal Basic Education framework and the country’s 6334 education structure.
“If you go back and look at the National Council on Education decisions, the Universal Basic Education Commission Act and the National Policy on Education, you will see clearly defined age expectations for primary, secondary and University education,” he explained.
The Adviser maintained that JAMB’s position was shaped by consistent findings across admission cycles, noting that maturity had repeatedly emerged as a factor in student outcomes.
“We have seen over and over again that age continues to play a major role. Beyond academics, education is a serious enterprise. Maturity plays a significant role in who you are, what you want to achieve and how you achieve it,” he added.
Benjamin confirmed that gifted candidates who meet a defined performance threshold remain eligible for admission below the prescribed age, citing similar practices in other countries where young individuals advance based on demonstrated ability.
He also recounted an instance where a London University contacted JAMB expressing disbelief that a Nigerian student had attained the qualifications in question at their age, a situation Benjamin described as a direct consequence of admitting candidates outside standard age expectations.
On Colleges of Education, Benjamin disclosed that enrolment figures had dropped significantly, with some Institutions filling less than 20% of available spaces. Under the revised policy, candidates will register with JAMB for National Certificate in Education programmes but will not be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Direct degree admissions through affiliate Universities will also be discontinued. Students will instead begin with NCE studies and progress to degree programmes within the same Institution once it meets required standards.
Benjamin framed the changes as part of a broader stakeholder agreement to strengthen teacher training and raise the standard of the profession nationwide.
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