Nigeria's new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has removed the 18-year minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions. He also indicated that his administration may soon review the country's overall education policy.
However, the minister confirmed that the government will uphold its decision to void over 22,700 degrees obtained by Nigerians from unaccredited universities in Togo and Benin Republic.
Dr. Alausa made these announcements on Wednesday during his first ministerial press conference in Abuja, which is still ongoing.
Background: In July, the Federal Government had directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to only admit candidates aged 18 and older into universities. This policy, introduced by the former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, was based on concerns that enrolling younger students was harming the educational system. The announcement, made at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions, was met with immediate protests from stakeholders.
Following the backlash, Prof. Mamman agreed to a compromise, allowing students aged 16 and older to apply for admission in 2024, with the 18-year age requirement set to be enforced from 2025.
