The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 underage candidates who successfully completed its rigorous screening process for exceptional entry into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, JAMB’s Head of Media and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said all 85 candidates were below 16 years of age as of September 2025.
According to him, the candidates were selected through a multi-stage evaluation process designed to identify young but academically gifted students.
“After meticulous evaluation, 85 candidates who are adjudged to be qualified have been duly notified to proceed to their respective institutions to complete the admission process and print their individual JAMB admission letters,” Dr. Benjamin said.
He explained that the policy aligns with global best practices, where exceptional admissions for underage candidates are treated as rare, merit-based exceptions rather than the norm.
JAMB disclosed that out of 2,031,133 applicants who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 41,027 candidates applied for special consideration under the underage category.
Of that figure, 599 candidates scored above the 80 percent threshold in the UTME and underwent further verification of their school certificates and Post-UTME results.
Following additional interviews and screenings, 85 candidates were cleared for admission.
JAMB further advised shortlisted candidates who missed the final interview stage to formally request reconsideration through its official support portal.
The Board reaffirmed that while it promotes excellence and talent development, the minimum admission age policy remains in force, with exemptions granted only on merit.
