UTME: FG pegs admission age at 16

*As VCs set cut-off mark in UTME at 150,Poly rectors adopt 140; COE provosts, 100

THE Federal Government has officially pegged entry admission year into the nation’s tertiary institutions at 16 years.

It also warned against illegal admissions, insisting that any admission conducted outside of the Central Admission Processing System, CAPS, would be illegal and perpetrators prosecuted.

Government’s declaration came on a day vice chancellors of the nation’s universities pegged cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission at 150, while polytechnic rectors adopted 140 and provosts of colleges of education, 100.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who disclosed the 16 years admission age, while declaring open the ongoing policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Abuja, yesterday, warned that heads of institutions found engaged in admission fraud would face prosecution.

On admission entry year, Alausa declared that the official 16 years set by the government was not negotiable.

He said:  “The issue of age at entry into tertiary institutions has generated much debate, but our position is clear. The entry age for admission into tertiary institutions is now officially pegged at 16 years.’’

Asking institutions to comply with the new entry age with effect from this year, the minister said:  “This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. 

"Sixteen years of age as admission to the official age is non-negotiable. Institutions are directed to ensure strict compliance.’’

He, however, said there were some exceptional cases to admitting some persons below the age.

He said: “We understand there may be a few exceptional cases and provisions have already been made for legitimate exceptions, especially for youth entry or those with accelerated educational progress. 

‘’However, this must be clearly demonstrated and documented, and it must be justified. The ministry is firm in its resolve and those attempting to circumvent this policy by altering age records will be sanctioned accordingly,” he declared.

Speaking further, the minister warned against illegal admissions, insisting that all admissions must go through JAMB’s CAPS.

He said:  “As you are aware, the responsibility for initiating the admissions of candidates lies with the senators of the respective academic boards of each institution. However, JAMB, as a legally mandated regulatory body, oversees and regulates the process to ensure fairness and equity. 

‘’To support this, the Central Admission Processing System, CAPS, was developed and deployed in the year 2017 to enforce compliance on the agreed procedures.

“I have been briefed on the workings of CAPS as an automation devoid of human interference, which has eliminated administrative bottlenecks. As usual, JAMB has long-winded issue-specific advisories to guide the process, flexibility to address peculiarities, and the unique features of institutions can also be allowed to provide their own analysis, compliant with the guidelines.

“Therefore, let me state emphatically and unequivocally that any admission conducted outside CAPS, regardless of its intentions, is illegal.

“Both institutions and the candidates involved in such practices will be held accountable. Sanctions will include the withdrawal of the institutional license, as well as the removal or with prosecution of culpable officers or government council members."

Meanwhile, this year’s university admission benchmark appears to be 10 points higher than the 140 adopted in the 2024 academic year. 

The development came as JAMB, disclosed that Lagos State University, LASU; University of Lagos, UNILAG and University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, emerged as the top three most selected first-choice universities by candidates for the 2025/2026 academic session.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ish-aq Oloyede, who disclosed this at the event, also said a candidate, Okeke Chinedu Christian, from Anambra State, recorded the highest score with 375 out of a possible 400 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

According to him, the candidate picked University of Lagos as his first choice to study Mechanical Engineering.

He was closely followed by Ayuba Simon-Peter John from Gombe State, who polled 374 and selected Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, as his first choice to study Mechanical Engineering, while Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka from Kwara State, scored 373 to study Mechanical Engineering.

Culled from Vanguard