Education Minister Warns Against Illegal Admissions, Vows to Prosecute Violators

The Federal Government has officially established 16 years as the minimum entry age for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa announced the policy during the opening of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Policy Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr. Alausa emphasized that the age requirement is non-negotiable and warned that any admissions processed outside the official Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal. “Heads of institutions found engaging in admission fraud will face prosecution,” the minister stated firmly.

The new policy comes as part of government efforts to standardize admission processes across Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The minister stressed that strict adherence to the CAPS platform remains mandatory for all tertiary institutions.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the move as a step toward bringing Nigeria’s academic standards in line with global best practices, though some have raised concerns about potential challenges in implementation, particularly for exceptionally gifted younger students.

The policy takes immediate effect and will apply to the upcoming 2025/2026 academic session admissions. JAMB has been directed to enforce compliance across all institutions.