The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has granted admission approval to 85 underage candidates, who will be below the age of 16 by September 2025, after a detailed and comprehensive screening carried out under its exceptional admission policy.
In a statement released by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, the Board revealed that the 85 students were deemed qualified following a thorough evaluation process. They have been officially informed to proceed to their various institutions to complete the admission process and print their JAMB admission letters.
According to the Board, the exceptional admission policy adheres to international best practices, which recognise underage admissions as special cases that occur only under rare circumstances.
Out of the 2,031,133 candidates who applied for admission in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 41,027 applied for consideration under the underage category. Among these, 599 candidates achieved scores of at least 80 percent in the UTME and were subjected to further screening, including verification of their academic credentials and post-UTME performance.
After this stage, 182 candidates—comprising 178 students and four additional special cases—were shortlisted for the final phase of interviews and documentation. Following the completion of this rigorous process, 85 were found to have satisfied all requirements and were subsequently approved for admission.
JAMB also advised any of the 182 shortlisted candidates who missed the final interview due to legitimate reasons to submit a formal request through its Support Ticketing System under the category “2025 Underage Complaint.” The Board assured that such cases would be individually reviewed and handled strictly on merit.
In addition, JAMB extended a two-day grace period—ending Wednesday, October 29, 2025—for candidates who scored 320 and above in the UTME but were disqualified for failing to upload their O-Level results. These candidates are required to complete their uploads and notify the Board through the same ticketing channel.
Reaffirming its dedication to equity and academic excellence, JAMB emphasised that its admission process remains transparent, credible, and inclusive while maintaining the integrity and standards of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
What you should know
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is Nigeria’s central examination and admission body responsible for regulating entry into higher institutions.
Its exceptional admission policy, which allows underage candidates under rare conditions, is designed to accommodate exceptional cases of academic brilliance. Fabian Benjamin, the Board’s spokesperson, confirmed that the 85 approved candidates met all necessary academic and administrative benchmarks.
JAMB’s continued emphasis on transparency and fairness reinforces its commitment to maintaining the credibility of tertiary education admissions in Nigeria.
