The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has issued a directive to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and all Nigerian tertiary institutions to admit only candidates who have attained the age of 18 years and above.
The minister’s directive was given at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Thursday, a forum that brings together critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country.
“JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws,” the minister said.
The directive was met with some resistance from the audience, but the minister stood his ground, insisting that his position was backed by the law.
“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five—, and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he added.
More to follow…
