During the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Mamman declared, “JAMB is hereby notified that there is now a ban on underaged students, those under the age of 18, from our tertiary institutions for the 2024 admissions.
Our laws require students to be in 0 for six years—Yes, there are those who start at five—, and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he added.
The law was met with opposition and criticism, particularly from university stakeholders, as many of those categorised as underage candidates had already taken the UTME without anticipating the directive. This posed a threat to potential 16 and 17-year-olds who had already passed the UTME and were seeking admission into universities.
Subsequently, under pressure from various quarters, the minister reversed the directive, allowing candidates from 16 years to be admitted into the university as it previously stood until 2025.
