Starting next year, Nigerian university applicants must be at least 18 years old to sit for crucial examinations like WASSCE and SSCE. Education Minister Tahir Mamman reaffirmed this longstanding policy, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the minimum age requirement for academic progression.
Starting next year, anyone applying to universities in Nigeria will need to be at least 18 years old, according to Education Minister Tahir Mamman. In a recent interview on Channels Television's "Sunday Politics," Mamman outlined the new age requirement for secondary school examinations, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Under this policy, candidates who do not meet the age requirement will be prohibited from taking these critical examinations.
The directive affects both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). Additionally, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will also have the same age stipulation. Mamman emphasized that the 18-year minimum age is not a new rule but a reaffirmation of existing regulations designed to ensure that students complete the necessary years of schooling.
According to the minister, students typically spend about 17 and a half years in the education system, progressing from early childhood education through primary and secondary levels before reaching university. He clarified that NECO and WAEC will no longer permit underage candidates to take their exams, reiterating the importance of adhering to the age requirement for academic advancement in Nigeria.
