Nigeria’s Young Brains Shine as JAMB Screens 176 Underage UTME Top Scorers

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has screened 176 exceptional underage candidates who recorded impressive scores in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), amid renewed discussions on the possible review of Nigeria’s admission age policy.

The exercise, held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri, was part of JAMB’s effort to ensure that only academically outstanding candidates below the official admission age of 16 are considered for tertiary education in the 2025/2026 academic session.

Chairman of the Abuja Centre and former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, expressed satisfaction with the process, describing it as transparent and rigorous. According to him, the screening involved a written test followed by multiple interview stages to assess the intellectual and emotional maturity of the candidates.

“They did the first paper, which took about 20 minutes. After marking, they proceeded to the second and third sessions before having a face-to-face interaction,” Adedoja explained. He revealed that 22 candidates participated in the Abuja centre, bringing the total number screened nationwide to 176.

Also speaking during the monitoring exercise, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, commended JAMB for its transparency and for providing opportunities for gifted young Nigerians. He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s education reform agenda, describing education as a key driver of national development.

In the same vein, Hon. Oboku Oforji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, lauded the candidates’ performance, noting that it reflects the nation’s growing competitiveness in education across Africa.

Oforji disclosed that the House Committee is already considering a review of the current admission age policy, which many stakeholders have described as restrictive. He assured that the committee would continue to work with JAMB and other examination bodies to ensure policies align with Nigeria’s evolving educational needs.

“This exercise has shown that we have many young talents capable of excelling if given the right opportunities. We are proud of these children—they represent the future of our nation,” Oforji said.

The ongoing screening exercise, observers say, could mark the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s educational policy direction—one that recognizes academic excellence regardless of age.