The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has revealed that “exceptional” students below the age of 16 are now eligible to register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) through a special provision known as the Exceptionally Brilliant Window.
While JAMB has upheld the minimum age requirement of 16 for entry into tertiary institutions, Oloyede explained that this new provision was introduced to accommodate rare cases of exceptionally gifted students who demonstrate outstanding academic abilities.
Speaking as a guest on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin emphasized the rationale behind the initiative.
“In Nigeria, we have many brilliant students, and we recognize the existence of exceptional candidates. While the minimum age for tertiary education remains 16, those who believe they are truly exceptional can now apply under this special category,” he stated.
However, Oloyede expressed concerns over the increasing trend of parents manipulating their children’s ages to hasten their admission process. He revealed that over 2,000 candidates aged between 10 and 12 had already registered under questionable circumstances.
“I am surprised that within a few days, over 2,000 candidates have registered under this category. Some are as young as 10, 11, and 12 years old. Parents are resorting to dubious methods, including falsifying birth certificates, to accelerate their children’s academic progression,” he lamented.
He criticized parents who push their children into tertiary institutions prematurely, often for personal prestige. “Some parents want to use their children to enhance their social status, boasting that their child graduated at 13,” Oloyede added.
This development follows the reversal of the 18-year admission benchmark for tertiary institutions by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in November 2024. Alausa stated that the government had reverted to the 16-year minimum age requirement while allowing exceptions for gifted students.
“We will no longer enforce the 18-year admission benchmark. Instead, we will maintain the 16-year requirement and make provisions for exceptionally talented students,” the minister announced.
Previously, in July 2024, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had introduced a policy barring candidates under 18 from gaining admission into tertiary institutions. However, this policy has since been rescinded to accommodate academically gifted students who meet JAMB’s rigorous standards.
