The Federal Government has reinforced its stance that individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted to sit for the National Examinations Council and West African Examinations Council exams.
According to Channels, the directive was reiterated by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme.
Professor Mamman stated that WAEC, responsible for conducting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, and NECO, which oversees the Senior School Certificate Examination, have been instructed to enforce this age requirement.
“This is not a new policy,” Professor Mamman clarified. He further noted that the age limit of 18 also applies to candidates wishing to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
He explained, “At a recent meeting with JAMB in July, we decided to allow students below the age of 18 to sit for the exam this year as a transitional measure. However, from next year onwards, JAMB will strictly enforce the age requirement, ensuring all university applicants in Nigeria are at least 18 years old.”
Professor Mamman emphasised that this directive is based on the standard educational progression in Nigeria. “If you calculate the number of years a student is expected to spend from early childhood education through primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary school, the total is around 17 and a half years,” he said. “By the time they are ready for university admission, they should be 18.”
He also addressed misconceptions regarding the policy, stating, “We are not introducing a new policy. We are simply reminding the public of the existing regulations. NECO and WAEC, going forward, will not allow underage candidates to take their exams. This ensures that students have completed the requisite number of years at each level of education before advancing.”
The enforcement of this policy aims to ensure that students have the maturity and educational background necessary for higher academic pursuits.
