Government maintains 16-year age threshold for university enrollment

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed on Monday that the Federal Government has chosen to maintain the minimum age of 16 years for admission into Nigeria's tertiary institutions.

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This revelation was made during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, where Alausa highlighted that the decision resulted from comprehensive discussions and evaluations involving key stakeholders in the education sector.

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Alausa noted that the policy aims to achieve a balance between academic preparedness and inclusivity within the country's tertiary education system, ensuring that students are adequately equipped to succeed.

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According to the minister, "Following extensive consultations and policy reviews, the government has maintained sixteen years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions," which he believes reflects a careful balance between inclusivity and academic readiness.

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The minister acknowledged the existence of exceptionally gifted candidates who may be ready for tertiary education before reaching the minimum age, but emphasized that such cases will be handled according to strict guidelines.

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Alausa stated that "while we recognise the existence of exceptionally gifted individuals, such cases must be treated within clearly defined and rigorously enforced guidelines to preserve the integrity of the system as a whole," to prevent compromising the system's integrity.

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The new framework is designed to ensure that early admissions do not undermine the maturity and preparedness required for tertiary education, thereby safeguarding the quality of education provided.

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During the meeting, Alausa also introduced policy adjustments for specific disciplines, including Education and Agriculture-related programmes, which will offer more flexible admission considerations under the new framework.

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The announcement was made amidst broader discussions at the policy meeting, which covered topics such as admission guidelines, institutional quotas, and cut-off marks for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.