The Federal Government has officially set the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria at 16 years.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known on Tuesday while declaring open the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.

He emphasized that the age requirement is non-negotiable and must be strictly adhered to by all institutions.

The Minister also issued a stern warning that any admission carried out outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal, with perpetrators facing prosecution.

“Any head of institution involved in admission fraud will be prosecuted. The government will no longer tolerate disregard for laid-down guidelines,” Alausa stated.

He stressed that the enforcement of the age policy and strict adherence to CAPS is part of ongoing efforts to sanitize the admission process and uphold the integrity of the nation’s education system.