The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the reversal of the 18-year admission age requirement for tertiary institutions. This decision was revealed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during his first press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dr. Alausa explained that the previous 18-year benchmark was established based on the structure of the National Policy on Education. He emphasized that the ministry will now adopt a 16-year minimum age for admissions, with plans to consult the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other stakeholders. The minister also noted that there would be provisions for exceptionally talented students.
“We will not proceed with the 18-year admission standard. Our focus will shift to allowing 16-year-olds to enter tertiary institutions, along with special considerations for gifted individuals. The 18-year requirement is no longer part of our policy,” Dr. Alausa stated.
Additionally, the minister addressed the ongoing issue of certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, affirming that the policy to withdraw such certificates remains in place to combat the proliferation of counterfeit qualifications.
Highlighting the challenge of out-of-school children, Dr. Alausa labeled it a top priority for the ministry. He mentioned that various strategies would be explored to tackle this issue, including collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to implement conditional cash transfers aimed at encouraging school enrollment.
To further enhance student well-being and academic performance, the minister announced the introduction of nutritional programs designed to support students’ health, thereby fostering human capital development.
Dr. Alausa was officially welcomed to his new role by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasiru Sani-Gwarzo, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad.
