The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced that the federal government has approved age 16 as the minimum age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions
Alausa stated this today during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board held in Abuja emphasising that the age benchmark is now official and non-negotiable.
According to him, “This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. 16 years is non-negotiable.”
He warned that any admission carried out outside the Central Admissions Processing System would be considered illegal.
The minister further stated that heads of institutions found culpable of admission fraud or circumventing CAPS would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
