JAMB Underage (Candidates below 16 years) Admission Policy

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has added four more exams for underage candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, announced this decision during an inspection of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Reason for the Extra Exams

The policy is meant to allow only qualified candidates to gain admission into tertiary institutions.

Candidates must sign an indemnity letter before taking the UTME.

Those who do not meet the required standards will face sanctions.

Issue of Underage Candidates

Professor Oloyede stated that some parents use their children to push personal ambitions.

JAMB wants to maintain a fair and clear admission process.

Age Limit for Admission

The former Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced that candidates must be at least 18 years old to gain admission.

This rule was criticised for restricting younger candidates.

The new Minister of Education, Professor Tunji Alausa, later reversed the decision, restoring the previous admission requirements.