The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new stringent measures for screening underage candidates who performed exceptionally well in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but are yet to attain the minimum admission age of 16.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede who revealed the development during a virtual meeting with vice chancellors and heads of admissions of tertiary institutions said the move aims to prevent psychologically and emotionally unprepared children from being thrust prematurely into the demands of university life.
According to Oloyede, out of over 38,000 candidates below the age of 16 who applied for university admission, only 599 scored 320 and above in the UTME, hence the need for thorough screening.
As part of the new protocol, all affected candidates must undergo post-UTME assessments as determined by their chosen institutions, regardless of their high UTME scores.
JAMB has also inaugurated a 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, chaired by Prof. Oloyede , to oversee the screening process in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.
A subcommittee of education experts, led by former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has been tasked with developing a comprehensive screening template within one week. The template will assess the emotional and psychological readiness of underage candidates seeking university admission.
