Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s newly appointed Minister of Education, has removed the 18-year age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions. This change marks a reversal of a policy set by his predecessor, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who had mandated that only candidates aged 18 or older would be eligible for admission starting in 2025.
Mamman introduced the age limit in response to concerns that younger students might lack the maturity needed for the demands of higher education, which he argued could compromise educational quality. However, the policy faced immediate backlash, with stakeholders expressing concern that it would exclude gifted, younger students who are academically ready for university. Amid these reactions, Mamman initially amended the policy to allow candidates aged 16 and older for 2024 admissions, but planned to reinstate the 18-year benchmark the following year.
Upon taking office, Alausa abolished the age restriction altogether, setting the minimum age at 16 while allowing for exceptional cases where younger students demonstrate outstanding academic ability. Alausa argued that an 18-year age cap could hinder efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, as it may delay higher education access for many young Nigerians.
In addition to revisiting age policies, Alausa hinted that his administration may consider broader revisions to Nigeria’s education policy. Nonetheless, he upheld the federal government’s decision to invalidate over 22,700 degrees obtained from unaccredited universities in Togo and Benin Republic, emphasizing the need for stringent quality standards.
These initial moves by Alausa reflect a flexible approach to educational access, balancing the need for maturity in tertiary admissions with an openness to accommodating talented younger students, while also maintaining rigorous standards for degree recognition.
SOURCES
- https://www.thecable.ng/fg-reverses-18-years-age-limit-on-tertiary-school-admissions/
- https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/11/breaking-fg-reverses-18-year-admission-benchmark-in-tertiary-institutions/
