The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled plans to conduct a special screening for over 500 highly talented UTME candidates who are below the statutory admission age of 16, aiming to ensure only the most prepared candidates proceed in the admission process for the 2025/2026 academic session.
Screening Schedule & Locations
- Dates: Monday, September 22 to Friday, September 26, 2025.
- Venues:
- Lagos – 397 candidates
- Owerri (Imo State) – 136 candidates
- Abuja – 66 candidates
Candidate Numbers & Selection
- Over 41,027 UTME candidates under 16 sat for the 2025 examination, but more than 40,000 were ineligible after meeting basic criteria.
- Only a select group—those demonstrating exceptional academic merit and maturity—will participate in this screening.
Screening Format
- Candidates will undergo subject-specific tests tailored to their chosen course of study.
- These assessments are followed by oral interviews to evaluate readiness for higher education.
- WAEC/NECO results will be verified directly with examination bodies to ensure authenticity.
Eligibility Thresholds
To be eligible for the screening, candidates must have met all three of the following criteria:
- UTME score ≥ 320 / 400
- Post-UTME score ≥ 80%
- Single-sitting WAEC or NECO score ≥ 80% (equivalent to 24/30 points)
Rationale Behind the Policy
This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s minimum age requirement of 16 for university admission. JAMB emphasized the need to:
- Prevent age falsification
- Ensure candidates are mentally and emotionally ready
- Protect vulnerable underage students from undue academic and social pressure
University Responses
Some institutions, including:
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
- University of Jos
- Osun State University
have refused to admit underage candidates, regardless of academic performance.
What This Means for Underage Candidates
- If you’re under 16 and scored 320+ in UTME, 80%+ in Post-UTME, and 80%+ in a single WAEC/NECO sitting, you’re eligible for the screening.
- Expect to be tested and interviewed in late September at one of the designated centres.
- Ensure your WAEC/NECO credentials are authentic and verifiable, as JAMB will confirm directly with examination bodies.
- The process strikes a balance: recognising young academic talent while safeguarding their maturity and well-being.
If you’re one of these candidates—or a concerned parent—stay updated through official JAMB channels and prepare thoroughly for both the written assessments and interviews.
Related Articles
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- JAMB Releases Names of 2025 UTME Top Scorers
- How to Print Your JAMB Mop‑Up Exam Slip for 2025
- JAMB Announces 2025/2026 UTME Cut-Off Marks for Tertiary Admissions
- JAMB 2025 Mop-Up UTME Result
- JAMB Change of Course/Institution/Data Correction 2025
