The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 underage candidates who will be below 16 years of age by September 2025. The decision followed an intensive screening process conducted under JAMB’s exceptional admission policy.
In a statement released by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board said the 85 candidates were found qualified after a thorough evaluation. Each of them has been instructed to proceed to their respective institutions to complete admission formalities and print admission letters through the JAMB portal.
Dr. Benjamin explained that the exceptional admission policy reflects global best practices, noting that underage admissions are handled as rare exceptions, not standard cases.
In the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a total of 2,031,133 candidates applied for admission. Of this figure, 41,027 candidates sought consideration under the underage category.
Out of the applicants, 599 scored 80 percent or higher in the UTME and were subjected to further scrutiny, including verification of school certificates and post-UTME results. Following the evaluation, 182 candidates were shortlisted for the final round of interviews and documentation. At the end of the process, 85 candidates met all necessary requirements and were cleared for admission.
The board added that any of the 182 finalists who missed the final interview for valid reasons could still submit a formal complaint through the JAMB Support Ticketing System under the category “2025 Underage Complaint.” Each case, the statement said, would be reviewed strictly on merit.
Additionally, JAMB announced a two-day grace period for candidates who scored 320 and above but were disqualified for failing to upload their O-Level results. They are required to complete the upload and notify the board by Wednesday, October 29, 2025, using the same support system.
Reaffirming its commitment to credibility, fairness, and transparency, JAMB assured the public that its admission process remains inclusive and merit-based, while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education standards.
