The Federal Government has directed that candidates below 18 years are no longer eligible for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the directive in Abuja, on Thursday in his opening remarks at the 2024 Policy Meeting organized by JAMB to herald the commencement of the 2024 admission year.
He also directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to effect the new regulations beginning with the 2024 admission year.
He said the decision is in line with the recommendations of the National Council on Education (NCE) and other laws, henceforth the directive should be complied with.
He said: “I have been a Vice Chancellor for seven years. I have first-hand information and I have seen how these underage students struggle to cope in several ways whenever they are prematurely pushed into these universities prematurely.”
“…JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18 into our tertiary institutions from this 2024 admissions,” Mamman said.
Details later…