How admission policy affects underage applicants

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede has said different admission policies by higher institutions, have to some extent affected the chances of certain candidates from gaining undergraduate admission. The registrar who was explaining the admission procedure for higher institutions, shortly after announcing the results of the 2019 UTME in Abuja, said […]

Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede has said different admission policies by higher institutions, have to some extent affected the chances of certain candidates from gaining undergraduate admission.

The registrar who was explaining the admission procedure for higher institutions, shortly after announcing the results of the 2019 UTME in Abuja, said a lot of universities won’t offer admission to underage applicants, based on their respective policies.

The minimum age to study an undergraduate degree programme at many public higher institutions was at least 16 years.

For instance Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Lagos, Federal University, Lafia and several more universities have set the minimum age limit of 16 years.

However, universities, could review the minimum age requirement if they so wish. Also, underage applicants could be granted admission at the discretion of university authorities or council.

As a result of this, the candidate with the highest UTME marks, Ezenala Ekene Franklin, 15, may not be offered a place in his chosen university, Unilag, unless he attain the traditional age of university entrance by October, the registrar said.