The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its policy on under-16 candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions, explaining that candidates below the stipulated age can sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but may not be admitted unless they meet special requirements.
The clarification was contained in a video shared by JAMB on its official X account on Thursday as part of its “JAMB Explained” series.
Who is considered an underage candidate?
According to JAMB, any candidate who is below the age of 16 by September 30 of the admission year is classified as an underage candidate.
The board explained that the September 30 age cut-off is a policy instituted by the Federal Ministry of Education.
This means that for the 2026 admission exercise, candidates must have attained the age of 16 on or before September 30, 2026, to avoid being classified as underage.
Can under-16 candidates sit for UTME?
Yes.
JAMB clarified that being below 16 does not prevent a candidate from registering for or taking the UTME.
However, such candidates will be classified as underage, and writing the UTME does not automatically make them eligible for admission.
What are the requirements for underage admission?
JAMB said underage candidates must meet a higher performance threshold before they can be considered for admission.
According to the board, an underage candidate must score at least 80 per cent in the UTME, post-UTME and O-Level screening to qualify for consideration.
The requirement means that candidates below the stipulated age must demonstrate exceptional academic performance across the relevant examinations and screening processes.
Why are underage candidates generally not admitted?
JAMB explained that candidates below the minimum admission age are not ordinarily considered for admission.
They can only be considered where they qualify as exceptional candidates by meeting the prescribed requirements.
Therefore, passing the UTME or meeting the general requirements for sitting the examination does not by itself guarantee admission for an under-16 candidate.
Does scoring 80 per cent guarantee admission?
No.
JAMB stressed that meeting the 80 per cent benchmark does not automatically guarantee admission.
The board said admission ultimately depends on the candidate’s chosen institution and its admission process.
This means an underage candidate who meets the required performance threshold may still not secure admission if other institutional or admission requirements are not satisfied.
Key points for 2026 UTME candidates
For candidates seeking admission in 2026, JAMB’s clarification means:
– Candidates below 16 can still sit for the UTME.
– Anyone below 16 by September 30, 2026, will be classified as underage.
– Underage candidates are not ordinarily considered for admission.
– Exceptional underage candidates must meet the prescribed performance requirements.
– Such candidates must score 80 per cent in the UTME, post-UTME and O-Level screening to be eligible for consideration.
– Meeting the benchmark does not guarantee admission.
JAMB said the clarification was issued to help candidates and parents better understand the age requirement for tertiary admission in Nigeria and avoid confusion between eligibility to sit for the UTME and eligibility for admission.
