University Admission: JAMB Sets Strict Screening Procedures For Underage Candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has established specific academic criteria for screening exceptional candidates under the age of 16 who achieved a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) score of 320 or higher for admission into the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to JAMB, among the more than 38,000 underage candidates who applied for this academic session, only 599 scored 320 and above in the UTME.
In response to this situation, JAMB inaugurated a 23-member National Committee on Underage Admission, led by its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. The committee is tasked with screening these exceptional candidates in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.
Reiterating that 16 years is the minimum entry age for tertiary education, Prof. Oloyede emphasized that underage candidates will only be considered under clearly established grounds of exceptional academic excellence. The existence of 599 candidates with scores of 320 and above highlights the necessity for a stringent selection process.
“These are the only ones qualified for possible waiver consideration, and they are not guaranteed admission unless cleared by our multi-layered screening system,” Oloyede noted.
Speaking during the virtual inauguration of the Committee, Oloyede maintained that to qualify for consideration, candidates under the age of 16 must meet three academic criteria namely: a minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400 (80%), a post-UTME score of at least 80%, and a minimum of 80% in a single sitting of WAEC or NECO which amounts to 24 points out of 30.
At the meeting which was attended by vice chancellors and heads of admissions, Oloyede noted that JAMB would no longer tolerate the “academic abuse” of pushing psychologically and emotionally unprepared children into the rigours of university life.
“We are not saying no child under 16 will be admitted, but they must pass through a rigorous screening process that confirms they are truly gifted. This policy is not just about age; it’s about maturity, capacity, and long-term well-being.”
The Registrar also charged relevant institutions to assess all under-16 candidates through a dedicated post-UTME, even if the school has suspended such a process for the general admission population, adding that JAMB would further collate the academic records and forward only those who meet all benchmarks for further screening.
In addition, Oloyede outlawed the combination of results from two different exam bodies, such as mixing WAEC and NECO results for such a category of candidates, adding that science students must include mathematics in their top subjects, while arts students must include English.
