Senate affirms 16 yrs minimum age for varsity admission counters 18 yrs requirement

The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed that the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions remains at 16 years. Adeyemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, clarified this position during an interview in Abuja.

He dismissed speculations about an increase in the minimum age as mere rumors. Adaramodu further explained that any changes to the existing law must go through the legislative process to be considered valid. It should be noted that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, recently proposed raising the admission requirement age from 16 to 18 years. However, this proposal is not yet implemented and remains under consideration. Mamman expressed concerns about the young age of some university applicants and emphasized the importance of maturity in managing university affairs. He urged parents to avoid pressuring their children into early admission.

Members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund expressed their support for the federal government’s recent actions. Senator Muntari Dandutse, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, made this known during a visit to various examination centers to oversee the ongoing UTME. The Senate Spokesman clarified that the discussion on the minimum age requirement for admission is merely an opinion and not a law.

He emphasized that any proposal to make it a law would need to go through the appropriate legislative procedures, including public hearings involving various stakeholders. The Spokesman also refuted claims that the Minister of Education had directed JAMB not to release results of applicants under 18 years old, stating that such conditions were not part of the initial form purchase agreement.