Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its policy on underage candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, explaining that while candidates below the age of 16 may still sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), they face significant hurdles before they can be considered for admission.
JAMB defines an underage candidate as anyone who has not attained the age of 16 by September 30 of the admission year. The board stated that this cut-off is a policy instituted by the Federal Ministry of Education. For the 2026 admission exercise, this means candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to avoid being classified as underage.
Can underage candidates sit for UTME? Yes. The board has clarified that being below 16 does not prevent a candidate from participating in the UTME. However, participation in the examination does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
Underage candidates must meet a significantly higher performance threshold to qualify for consideration. They are required to score 80 per cent in UTME, post-UTME and O-level screening to be eligible for admission. In specific terms, this means scoring at least 320 in the UTME and obtaining a minimum of 80 per cent in subsequent screening processes, including post-UTME assessments conducted by their chosen institutions. In some cases, candidates in the faculty of science must also have Mathematics among their top-scoring subjects, while English Language is required for candidates in the faculty of arts. Underage candidates must also undergo a dedicated post-UTME screening even in universities where the general post-UTME process has been suspended.
Candidates below the stipulated age are generally excluded from admission unless they meet the conditions for exceptional candidates. JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, stated that the measures are intended to protect candidates by ensuring they are psychologically, emotionally, and socially prepared for the exposure and responsibilities of university life. The board has also withheld the results of underage candidates until they meet the exceptional candidate benchmarks.
Meeting the 80 per cent benchmark is not a guarantee of admission. JAMB cautioned that satisfying the requirements does not amount to an automatic admission offer. The board emphasised that admission ultimately depends on the choice of institution.
JAMB has begun sending messages to underage candidates who scored 320 and above, inviting them to proceed to the next stage of assessment at their chosen institutions. The board said that only candidates who meet the score threshold will be shortlisted and invited for further assessments. Until that process is concluded, the results of underage candidates will remain withheld.
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