JAMB Grants Admission To 85 Exceptional Underage Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 exceptional candidates who were below the age of 16 as of September 2025, following a meticulous evaluation process described as consistent with global best practices.

In a statement issued by its Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB explained that the decision came after a multi-layered screening exercise involving over 41,000 underage applicants who had sought exceptional admission consideration among the 2,031,133 candidates that sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Out of this number, 599 candidates scored above the 80 percent threshold and were subjected to further scrutiny, including verification of their school certificates and Post-UTME performance. From that group, 182 finalists emerged, and following final interviews and document checks, 85 were adjudged fully qualified for admission.

“After thorough verification and interviews, 85 candidates who met the established criteria have been duly cleared to proceed to their respective institutions and print their JAMB admission letters,” Benjamin stated.

He emphasized that the special approval did not signify a relaxation of admission standards but rather an acknowledgment of “extraordinary intellectual maturity” among a few candidates who demonstrated readiness for tertiary education ahead of the statutory age limit.

JAMB also announced a special window for any of the 182 finalists who missed the final interview to file a formal request through its Support Ticketing System under a new category titled “2025 Underage Complaint.” Each case, the board noted, would be reviewed strictly on its own merit.

In a related update, the examination body granted a two-day grace period, ending Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME but were previously disqualified for failing to upload their O-Level results.

Dr. Benjamin reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to credibility, transparency, and fairness in the admission process, stressing that the Board would continue to uphold standards that safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

“Our mandate is to ensure that every qualified candidate, regardless of age or background, is given a fair chance,” he said. “At the same time, we will continue to uphold the standards that guarantee the credibility of our admission system.”