The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has described 108 candidates below the age of 16 who qualified for admission into tertiary institutions as exceptionally gifted students capable of developing innovations to transform Nigeria and the world.
Alausa made the remarks while addressing the candidates in Abuja on Wednesday, following their outstanding performance in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and subsequent screening exercises.
He said the students had demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities, stressing the need for the country to identify, nurture and support gifted young Nigerians to maximise their potential.
The Minister noted that Nigeria’s youthful population presented a significant opportunity for national development, pointing out that approximately 70 per cent of the country’s population was below the age of 30.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing policies aimed at improving opportunities for young Nigerians and preparing them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Alausa explained that candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions before the age of 16 were required to meet stringent academic and screening criteria.
He said more than 2.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, while approximately 2.1 million sat for the examination.
Of these, about 39,000 candidates were below the age of 16, but only 391 scored at least 320 out of 400 marks, representing 80 per cent.
The Minister added that candidates in this age category were also required to score at least 80 per cent in their post-UTME examinations and O’Level assessments.
He said the candidates subsequently underwent screening to evaluate their maturity, psychological readiness and emotional preparedness for university education.
According to Alausa, the 108 candidates who successfully met the prescribed requirements represented a small fraction of the millions who participated in the examination.
He urged the young achievers to look beyond obtaining university degrees and concentrate on developing innovative ideas and practical solutions to address challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
“You are the ones that will change Nigeria and the world with your innovations,” the Minister told the students.
He congratulated the candidates on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and President Tinubu, expressing confidence that they would make significant contributions to society.
Alausa also called on the tertiary institutions admitting the candidates to recognise their exceptional abilities and provide supportive learning environments that would encourage intellectual growth, creativity and innovation.
The students were presented with awards of honour in recognition of their outstanding performance in the 2026 UTME.
