A minister in Nigeria orders JAMB and other organizations to reject applicants who are less than 18 years old.
Professor Tahir Mamman, the minister of education, has ordered that only applicants who are at least eighteen years old be admitted to Nigerian tertiary institutions through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
During his speech on Thursday at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, the minister issued the mandate.
The policy meeting serves as a forum for key players involved in the nation’s post-secondary education admissions processes, such as principal officers of monotechnics,
university vice-chancellors and registrars, rectors and registrars of polytechnics, provosts, and registrars of colleges of education.
“JAMB is hereby directed to admit only qualified students starting this year. The minister responded, “That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws,” to a chorus of groans from the packed assembly.
In response to the dark murmurs in the auditorium, the minister asserted that Nigeria’s law governing tertiary institution admissions supported his viewpoint.
He stated that admissions bodies shouldn’t need to hear from him in order to consider that.
“According to our legislation, children must attend school for six years (some start at age five), spend six years in primary school, three years in basic education, and three years in secondary school.
The minister’s remark is not necessary. We are merely restating the legal provisions,” he continued.
Details to follow….
