The Federal Government has retained 16 years as the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
According to the minister, the policy followed extensive consultations and reviews involving key stakeholders in the education sector and is intended to balance inclusivity with academic readiness.
“Following extensive consultations and policy reviews, the government has maintained sixteen (16) years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions,” Alausa stated.
“This position reflects a careful balance between inclusivity and academic readiness,” he added.
The minister acknowledged that some exceptionally gifted students may meet academic requirements before the age of 16 but explained that such cases would only be considered under strict and clearly defined guidelines.
He stressed that the policy framework was designed to ensure that students admitted into tertiary institutions possess the maturity and preparedness necessary for higher education.
Alausa also disclosed that the Federal Government is introducing adjustments affecting Education and Agriculture-related programmes, allowing candidates in those disciplines to benefit from more flexible admission considerations under the revised framework.
The announcement formed part of wider discussions at the 2026 admission policy meeting, where stakeholders also deliberated on institutional quotas, admission guidelines, and cut-off marks for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The development comes shortly after the government announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
