The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a significant adjustment to the age requirement for tertiary institution admissions for the 2024/2025 academic session. In a statement released on Thursday, October 17, 2024, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin confirmed that candidates who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025, are now eligible for admission, provided they meet the academic standards of their chosen institutions.
This policy change aims to promote equal opportunities for all applicants and prevent any disadvantage for candidates admitted later in the academic year. Benjamin emphasized that while the age relaxation increases access, it will not lower the standards upheld by institutions.
This decision represents a key step in expanding access to higher education and enabling younger students to pursue their academic aspirations earlier. Institutions have been instructed to submit the names of eligible candidates who will turn 16 between January 1 and August 31, 2025, within one week.