The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has screened 176 exceptional candidates below the age of 16 who scored 320 and above in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The exercise, held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri, followed JAMB’s new policy enforcing the 16-year minimum age requirement for university admission. However, the screening offers a special pathway for outstanding underage candidates.
Chairman of the Abuja screening centre, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, said the process involved written tests and face-to-face interviews to assess the candidates’ academic readiness and maturity. He confirmed that 22 candidates participated in Abuja, while 176 took part nationwide.
Senator Mohammed Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, praised JAMB for creating opportunities for gifted students, describing the initiative as vital for nurturing national talent. Similarly, Hon. Oboku Oforji, Chair of the House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, commended the candidates’ performance, saying it reflected Nigeria’s growing educational competitiveness.
JAMB said the final decision on admission eligibility would be announced after results from the screening are reviewed. The process was supervised by experts from the Ministry of Education, NUC, and university vice-chancellors.
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