Sixteen out of the 71 universities that received applications for admissions of underage candidates failed to meet the September 15, 2025, deadline set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the submission of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening results.
JAMB had directed 71 universities that received applications from underage candidates to submit their post-UTME results early to enable speedy processing of admissions.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recently disclosed that out of the 41,027 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 500 scaled through initial screening.
He noted that four institutions — the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; and Osun State University — formally notified JAMB that they would not admit underage candidates under any circumstances.
However, data showed that 40 underage candidates were affected by the delay from the 16 universities yet to submit results. These include Abia State University (one applicant), Bayelsa Medical University (one), Bingham University, Karu (three), Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi (one), Federal University, Lokoja (two), Kwara State University (four), Lead City University (two), Madonna University (one), McPherson University (two), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (one), Modibbo Adama University (one), Rhema University (one), TopFaith University (one), University of Abuja (12), and University of Calabar (six).
JAMB explained that consideration was being given only to candidates who scored at least 320 in the UTME, secured a minimum of 80 per cent in post-UTME, and obtained 80 per cent (24/30 points) in a single sitting of WAEC or NECO.
The policy shift followed complaints by parents and stakeholders that high-performing candidates were being denied admission strictly on the basis of age.
Currently, JAMB enforces a 16-year minimum entry age into tertiary institutions, in line with the Ministry of Education’s directive. The policy, according to the board, is to ensure that candidates admitted are mentally and psychologically mature enough to cope with the rigours of higher education.
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