“Underage Surge: Over 41,000 Minors Among 2025 UTME Registrants as JAMB Reinforces Age Policy”

Over 41,000 Underage Candidates Registered for 2025 UTME

A staggering total of 41,027 underage candidates have registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), according to real-time statistics from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). These candidates are part of the 2.03 million individuals who completed registration for the nationwide examination.

The data, updated Tuesday on JAMB’s official registration dashboard, comes amid renewed focus on the appropriate age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. As of Monday, the Board also confirmed 62 recorded cases of examination malpractice, reflecting the continued challenges in maintaining examination integrity.

Ondo Politics Heats Up: Aiyedatiwa, Tunji-Ojo Lock Horns Ahead Of 2027 Governorship Race

UTME Registrations Raise Questions Over Age Compliance

The influx of underage candidates has reignited discussions over compliance with age eligibility criteria for university admission. Recently, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed that the minimum acceptable age for admission remains 16 years. While this benchmark is mandatory, the Minister acknowledged that highly gifted candidates under 16 may still be considered for admission.

To qualify under this exception, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has stated that underage students must attain a minimum score of 320 out of 400—representing an 80% performance threshold in the UTME. This exception seeks to balance academic merit with regulatory standards, following a recent policy reversal from the 18-year age limit instituted by former Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman.

This reinstated age policy has been largely embraced by education stakeholders, who see it as a more inclusive yet disciplined approach to tertiary education entry.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reiterated at a high-level meeting with key stakeholders that exceptions for underage students would be rare and tightly controlled. He maintained that the standard minimum age of 16 remains non-negotiable in most cases, reaffirming the Board’s commitment to regulatory compliance.

CBT-Only Exams by 2026: WAEC and NECO Set for Full Digitization

In a related development, the Minister of Education has mandated a digital shift in the country’s examination system. Starting November 2025, both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) must begin conducting their objective tests exclusively through Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

This shift aims to tackle persistent examination malpractice by leveraging digital monitoring and automated assessments. By the May/June 2026 examination cycle, the Minister announced, both the objective and essay sections of WAEC and NECO exams must be entirely CBT-compliant.

This transition, though ambitious, is expected to streamline exam administration, enhance transparency, and align Nigeria’s education system with global standards.

As the education landscape evolves with technology and policy reforms, JAMB’s vigilance on age regulation, coupled with efforts to modernize assessment practices, marks a pivotal step toward strengthening the nation’s academic integrity and inclusiveness.