The Federal Government has mandated that individuals under 18 years old are no longer permitted to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced this directive during an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics,” emphasizing that the age requirement, though previously established, will now be strictly enforced.
Mamman clarified that the same age limit applies to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
However, he noted that while students below 18 will still be admitted this year, starting from next year, JAMB will enforce the age rule strictly.
He explained that the policy aligns with the standard educational timeline, where students typically reach the age of 17 and a half by the time they complete secondary school.
The Minister reiterated that this move is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations.
