New JAMB Policy Allows Under-16 Prodigies to Sit for UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced an Exceptional Candidates Window for students under 16 years old to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), acknowledging the existence of exceptionally brilliant young learners.

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, announced this during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television.

A Pathway for Gifted Young Students
Prof. Oloyede emphasized that while 16 remains the official minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions, the board recognizes that a small fraction of students display exceptional academic capabilities at a younger age.

“In Nigeria, there are many brilliant students, and we have so many excellent people. We are enforcing the 16-year minimum, but some people argue that there are exceptional students. Yes, they exist, but they are one in a million,” he explained.

The new policy allows candidates below 16 years old to register under the Exceptional Candidates Window, proving their brilliance through standardized assessments.

Concerns Over Age Manipulation
Prof. Oloyede also expressed concerns about parents manipulating their children’s ages to accelerate their academic progression, sometimes through affidavits and falsified records.

“Some parents want to use their children to decorate their CVs, claiming their child graduated at 13. Normal children cannot biologically progress faster than their natural growth,” he stated.

Since the initiative’s launch, over 2,000 candidates, some as young as 10, 11, and 12, have registered, sparking debate on early university admissions and academic readiness.

With this new Exceptional Candidates Window, JAMB seeks to strike a balance between maintaining academic standards and accommodating gifted students, ensuring fairness and credibility in Nigeria’s education system.