ABUJA: The Federal Government has reversed the policy that set the minimum age for university admission at 18 years, a decision announced by the newly appointed Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa.
The announcement came during his first press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, marking a shift in the country’s tertiary education policy.
In his remarks, Alausa revealed that the new government’s focus would be on reducing the age for university matriculation to 16, rather than the 18-year age limit imposed by his predecessor, Professor Tahir Mamman.
He confirmed that the Ministry would collaborate with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigerian universities to ensure that students can begin their tertiary education at 16.
“We will not be going with the 18 years; we will go back to the previous system, which is 16 years,” Alausa stated. He further emphasized that exceptions could be made for “gifted children” in the future.
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This change comes after President Bola Tinubu appointed Alausa as the new education minister, following the removal of Professor Mamman, who had implemented the 18-year age limit earlier this year.
Mamman had introduced the policy during a JAMB policy meeting in July, arguing that the law requires students to undergo a specific number of years of basic and secondary education before university admission.
Alausa’s decision to reverse the policy is seen as part of broader efforts to address Nigeria’s high number of out-of-school children and improve access to tertiary education. He also signaled his intention to continue working closely with JAMB and universities to ensure the educational system remains inclusive and accessible for all qualified students.
