The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced special admission guidelines for 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but failed to meet the age requirement of 16 years.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while inaugurating a dedicated committee in Bwari, FCT, on Wednesday, stated that the body would evaluate and recommend truly exceptional candidates for admission, despite their age.
“These are the 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above. Between now and September, the committee will assess and pick a few who are genuinely gifted,” he said.
To qualify:
Those who fall below this benchmark will be disqualified automatically.
The committee, which includes vice-chancellors, regulatory agencies, education experts, and other key stakeholders, will hold sessions in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri. According to Prof. Oloyede, the selection process will focus on identifying “specially gifted” candidates.
He cautioned parents against rushing their children into tertiary institutions, noting that early admission can hinder proper development. He also warned against bribery, describing it as introducing children to crime at a young age.
Oloyede reassured that the process will be fair, transparent, and based strictly on merit.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while inaugurating a dedicated committee in Bwari, FCT, on Wednesday, stated that the body would evaluate and recommend truly exceptional candidates for admission, despite their age.
“These are the 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above. Between now and September, the committee will assess and pick a few who are genuinely gifted,” he said.
To qualify:
- Candidates must score at least 80% in their school certificate results
- Their post-UTME scores, to be submitted by institutions before September 16, must also meet or exceed 80%
Those who fall below this benchmark will be disqualified automatically.
The committee, which includes vice-chancellors, regulatory agencies, education experts, and other key stakeholders, will hold sessions in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri. According to Prof. Oloyede, the selection process will focus on identifying “specially gifted” candidates.
He cautioned parents against rushing their children into tertiary institutions, noting that early admission can hinder proper development. He also warned against bribery, describing it as introducing children to crime at a young age.
Oloyede reassured that the process will be fair, transparent, and based strictly on merit.
