Nigeria TV Info – JAMB Approves Admission for 85 Underage Candidates After Special Screening

Abuja, Nigeria – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 underage candidates who will be below 16 years by September 2025, following what the Board described as a rigorous and well-structured exceptional admission screening process.

In a statement issued by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board explained that the candidates were thoroughly evaluated and found to have met all academic and procedural requirements necessary for admission into tertiary institutions despite not meeting the minimum age requirement.

According to JAMB, each of the selected candidates has been notified to proceed to their various higher institutions of choice to finalize admission procedures and print their official admission letters.

The Board emphasized that its exceptional admission policy is aligned with global best practices, where underage admissions are treated strictly as rare exceptions rather than a general rule.

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Breakdown of the Screening Process

Total UTME Applicants (2025): 2,031,133

Applicants Seeking Underage Consideration: 41,027

Candidates Who Scored at Least 80% in UTME: 599

Candidates Shortlisted for Final Interview & Documentation: 182

Candidates Finally Approved for Admission: 85

JAMB noted that the shortlisted candidates underwent detailed verification, including assessment of their educational history, school certificates, and performance in post-UTME/screening exercises to ensure academic competence and readiness for higher education.