Tunji Alausa

Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s new Minister of Education, announced the removal of the 18-year minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions. This move comes as part of broader reforms, with Alausa signaling potential updates to the nation’s education policy.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Alausa confirmed that his administration will uphold the federal government’s recent decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained from unaccredited universities in neighboring Togo and Benin Republic.

Previously, the government, under former Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman, had directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to set an 18-year minimum age for candidates entering tertiary institutions, citing the adverse effects of admitting underage students. After stakeholder consultations, the policy was amended to allow admissions for candidates aged 16 and above for the 2024 academic year, with the original 18-year requirement scheduled for 2025.