This was disclosed by the Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has mandated that only individuals aged 18 and above can take the National Examination Council Nigeria (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme.
Mamman stated that WAEC, which conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and NECO, which manages the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), have been instructed to adhere to the 18-year age requirement for all exam candidates.
He highlighted that this is a reaffirmation of pre-existing regulations rather than a new policy.
The minister also noted that the age limit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), overseen by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains at 18 years.
He stated, “It is 18 years, during our meeting with JAMB in July, we agreed to allow this year as a grace period for parents. This means that JAMB will admit students below 18 years old this year, but starting next year, the age requirement of 18 will be strictly enforced for university admissions in Nigeria.”
Mamman also pointed out that this policy aligns with the typical educational trajectory.
He noted, “If you calculate the standard duration for a child’s education—from early child care through primary school, junior secondary school, and senior secondary school—you’ll find that students typically reach 17 and a half years old by the time they are ready for university admission.”
He reiterated that NECO and WAEC will no longer allow underage candidates to sit their examinations.
“In other words, if a student has not completed the requisite number of years at the appropriate level of study, they will not be permitted to take the exams,” he said.
