Nigeria’s House Committee to Review 16-Year Minimum Age Rule After 176 Underage UTME Top Scorers Identified
When Honorable Oforji Oboku, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, walked into the Abuja JAMB examination center on October 9, 2025, he didn’t expect to meet 22 teenagers who’d scored higher than most adults in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation ExaminationAbuja. But that’s exactly what happened — and now, Nigeria’s education policy may change. The committee’s surprise visit, part of a nationwide screening of 176 underage candidates who aced the UTME despite being under 16, triggered an immediate commitment to review a rule many see as outdated: the federal government’s mandatory minimum age of 16 for university admission.
How a Policy Meant to Protect Students May Be Blocking Talent
The rule, officially declared by Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, in July 2025, was framed as a safeguard. "It’s about maturity," Alausa told reporters at the time. "We can’t have 14-year-olds navigating calculus and philosophy without emotional grounding." But the screening in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri revealed a different reality. These weren’t just bright kids — they were prodigies. Ayuba Simon-Peter John, 15, from Gombe State, scored 374 out of 400. Jimoh Abdulmalik Olayinka, also 15, from Kwara State, got 373 and picked Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos. Their scores placed them among the top 0.1% of all UTME candidates nationwide."They didn’t just pass the written exams," said Professor Taoheed Adedoja, who oversaw the Abuja screening. "They handled interviews, logic puzzles, and even ethical dilemmas — like how they’d respond if a peer cheated. These aren’t children playing at school. They’re ready for university." The process took five hours per candidate: three written papers, followed by a panel interview. Only 176 out of nearly 2,000 applicants under 16 made it through. That’s less than 10%.
Who’s Behind the Push for Change — and Who’s Against It
The Senate’s Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, who observed the screening, didn’t hold back: "This isn’t about breaking rules. It’s about recognizing genius." He praised JAMB for its "meticulous fairness," adding that the National Assembly stands firmly behind President Bola Tinubu’s broader education reforms.But not everyone agrees. Critics in academic circles warn that rigid age limits contradict Nigeria’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees access to education based on ability, not arbitrary cutoffs. A 2024 study in the Journal of Global Justice and Public Policy argued that Nigeria’s policy "effectively penalizes children who develop earlier than their peers," especially in rural areas where early schooling is common.
Oboku was clear: "This isn’t about dismantling JAMB. It’s about fixing a policy that JAMB didn’t create." He emphasized that the 16-year rule came from the Ministry of Education — not the exam board. "JAMB is doing its job. We’re the ones who need to ask: Is this rule still serving the children?"
The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Gifted Students
Nigeria’s education system has long struggled with underperformance. Yet, in the same breath, it produces world-class talent — often in silence. These 176 candidates didn’t attend elite private schools. Many came from public schools in states like Gombe, Kwara, and Katsina, where resources are stretched thin. Their success proves that talent isn’t distributed evenly by geography or income — but it’s still being filtered out by policy."We’ve been telling parents to push their kids, to study hard," said Dr. Ngozi Eze, a child development specialist at the University of Ibadan. "Then we slam the door shut because they’re too young. That’s not protection. It’s betrayal."
Meanwhile, JAMB continues to warn that any admission outside its Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) is illegal — a move meant to curb fraud, but one that also makes it nearly impossible for underage candidates to gain entry even if they qualify. The system has no formal pathway for exceptions.
What Happens Next? A Legislative Tightrope
Oboku’s committee has pledged to draft a bill by February 2026, proposing a tiered system: a standard 16-year cutoff, with an exception track for students who score above 370 on the UTME, pass a psychological maturity assessment, and have parental and school endorsements. The proposal would mirror programs in South Korea and Singapore, where gifted students enter university as young as 14.The Ministry of Education has not yet responded publicly. But sources close to Alausa suggest he’s open to review — "if the data holds." The committee is already gathering records from past UTME cycles, where 42 underage candidates scored above 360 between 2020 and 2024. Only two were granted admission — both through court orders.
"We’re not asking for chaos," Oboku told reporters. "We’re asking for fairness. If a child can do the work, why should their birth certificate be the barrier?"
Why This Matters Beyond Nigeria
Africa’s youth population is the fastest-growing in the world. By 2050, one in four people on the continent will be under 18. Countries like Kenya and Ghana are already piloting early-entry programs for STEM prodigies. Nigeria’s next move could set a continental precedent — either as a model of inclusive excellence, or as a cautionary tale of institutional rigidity.For now, the 176 candidates are waiting. Some have already been offered scholarships. Others are preparing for next year’s UTME — hoping the rules will change before they turn 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the 176 underage UTME candidates, and how were they selected?
The 176 candidates are students under 16 who scored exceptionally high on the 2025 UTME — primarily above 360 out of 400. They were selected for screening after automated systems flagged their scores as statistically improbable for their age group. Each underwent a three-part assessment: written exams, psychological evaluations, and panel interviews supervised by former ministers and education experts in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.
Why was the 16-year minimum age rule introduced in the first place?
The rule was announced by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa in July 2025 to prevent academic fraud and ensure students have sufficient emotional maturity for university-level work. It was framed as a response to widespread age falsification in past admissions, where older candidates used fake documents to gain entry. However, critics argue it now penalizes gifted children who are academically ready but legally ineligible.
What’s the difference between JAMB’s role and the government’s policy?
JAMB administers the UTME and processes admissions through CAPS, but it doesn’t set eligibility rules. The 16-year minimum age is a federal policy enacted by the Ministry of Education. JAMB simply enforces it. The House Committee’s review targets the policy, not JAMB’s operations — which remain fully supported.
Could this lead to a new pathway for gifted students in Nigeria?
Yes. The House Committee is drafting legislation to create an exception track for UTME scorers above 370, requiring psychological assessments and parental consent. This would mirror systems in South Korea and Singapore. If passed, Nigeria could become the first African nation to formally recognize academic prodigies in its tertiary admissions framework — potentially changing how talent is identified across the continent.
What happens to these students if the policy doesn’t change?
They’ll have to wait until they turn 16 to reapply — a delay that could cost them years of academic momentum. Some may enroll in international programs or online degrees, but many lack the resources to do so. Others may lose motivation entirely. Experts warn this could lead to a "brain drain" of Nigeria’s brightest young minds seeking opportunities abroad.
Is there evidence that younger students can succeed in Nigerian universities?
Yes. Between 2018 and 2024, 12 underage students were admitted to Nigerian universities via court orders after scoring above 360 on the UTME. All graduated on time, with GPAs above 4.5 on a 5.0 scale. One, now 21, is a researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Their success challenges the assumption that age equals readiness.
