iDeemlawfulThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 candidates who were below 16 years of age as of September 2025.
In a statement signed by its Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB explained that the decision followed a “meticulous evaluation” process, aligning with international standards where underage admissions are considered exceptional rather than routine.
“After thorough verification and interviews, 85 candidates who met the established criteria have been duly cleared to proceed to their respective institutions and print their JAMB admission letters,” Benjamin stated.
According to the Board, the approval came after a multi-level screening that began with 41,027 underage applicants seeking exceptional consideration out of the 2,031,133 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Of this number, 599 candidates scored above the 80 percent benchmark and were subjected to further evaluation, including verification of academic records and Post-UTME results. From that stage, 182 finalists emerged, and after the final interviews, 85 were deemed fully qualified for admission.
“This exceptional admission policy is not a relaxation of standards,” JAMB emphasized. “Rather, it acknowledges the rare intellectual maturity of a few candidates who have demonstrated readiness for tertiary education ahead of the statutory age.”
The Board also announced a special opportunity for any of the 182 finalists who missed the final interview to submit a formal request via the JAMB Support Ticketing System, under the new category titled “2025 Underage Complaint.” Each case, it added, would be reviewed individually.
In a related development, JAMB granted a two-day grace period—ending Wednesday, October 29, 2025—for candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME but were disqualified for not uploading their O-Level results. Affected candidates are advised to complete the process and notify the Board through the same support system.
Dr. Benjamin reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and maintaining academic integrity in all admission processes.
“Our mandate is to ensure that every qualified candidate, regardless of age or background, is given a fair opportunity,” he said.
“At the same time, we remain steadfast in upholding the standards that safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.”
