Candidates below the age of 16 seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions will face a tougher academic hurdle, with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requiring them to attain at least 80 per cent in UTME, Post-UTME and O’Level screening to qualify for consideration.

JAMB, in a clarification issued under its public education initiative, JAMB Explained, said candidates below 16 years are allowed to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), but they will be classified as underage candidates.

The board said the policy applies to candidates who are below 16 as of September 30 of the admission year, a threshold instituted by the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to JAMB, underage candidates are generally not considered for admission except where they meet the criteria for exceptional candidates.

The board stressed that such candidates must record an 80 per cent score in each of the UTME, Post-UTME and O’Level screening to become eligible for admission consideration.

JAMB also clarified that meeting the benchmark does not automatically guarantee admission, as the final decision rests with the candidate’s chosen institution.

The clarification is expected to provide greater certainty for exceptionally young candidates seeking early entry into Nigerian tertiary institutions.