| Age to limit 2025 Nigeria Exam as FGN set to Restrict JAMB, WAEC, and NECO Exams to Candidates Aged 18 and Over |
In a recent announcement, Prof. Tahir Mamman, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, stated that beginning in 2025, candidates under the age of 18 will no longer be eligible to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination. This decision aligns with Nigeria’s longstanding education policy, which mandates that students must be at least 18 years old to gain university admission.
In an interview with a Nigerian TV station, Prof. Mamman clarified that while underage students can still take the exam this year, the age requirement will be strictly enforced starting next year. He emphasized that the policy is not new but a continuation of an established rule designed to ensure that students are sufficiently prepared for higher education.
“FGN to Restrict JAMB, WAEC, and NECO Exams to Candidates Aged 18 and Over”
Additionally, the Minister explained that the policy also takes into account the number of years a student has spent in the educational system. Specifically, students must have completed at least 17 and a half years of schooling, from daycare through primary and secondary education, before being eligible to take the NECO, WAEC, and JAMB exams.
Although there may be future considerations for exceptionally talented students, Prof. Mamman stressed that the current policy aims to maintain educational standards and prevent misuse. He noted that while other countries have similar age requirements with provisions for gifted students, such exceptions in Nigeria could be prone to exploitation. This announcement follows a federal government decision to allow underage students to take the JAMB exam in 2024 temporarily, in response to public demand, but the age restriction will be fully enforced from 2025.
