The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has defended the 16 year minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary Institutions, while also announcing a new policy that reshapes how Colleges of Education operate across Nigeria.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB's Public Communication Adviser, addressed both issues on Thursday during a dialogue organised by the Education Writers' Association of Nigeria via Zoom, themed "2026 Admission Policy Review and JAMB Scorecard: A Conversation with the Registrar."

On the admission age policy, Benjamin pushed back against calls for a review, arguing that the benchmark was grounded in established law and years of evidence.

"We didn't just wake up one night and say it must be 16 years. If you go back and look at the National Council on Education decisions, the Universal Basic Education Commission Act and the National Policy on Education, you will see clearly defined age expectations for primary, secondary and University education," he stated.

Benjamin disclosed that JAMB regularly reviews admission outcomes to assess student performance, adding that maturity remains a consistent variable in academic achievement.

"We have seen over and over again that age continues to play a major role. Beyond academics, education is a serious enterprise. Maturity plays a significant role in who you are, what you want to achieve and how you achieve it," he noted.

He confirmed that exceptions exist for gifted candidates who meet a defined performance threshold, pointing to precedents from other countries where young individuals advanced academically based on demonstrated exceptional ability.

Benjamin also revealed that a University in London once queried JAMB over a Nigerian student's credentials, expressing disbelief that the candidate had attained such qualifications at their age.

On the College of Education policy, Benjamin explained that many Institutions have been recording very low enrolment, with some filling less than 20% of available spaces. Under the new arrangement, candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes will still register with JAMB but may not be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, given the low demand for the programmes.

Colleges of Education will also be required to discontinue direct degree admissions through affiliate Universities. Students will now begin with NCE studies before progressing to degree programmes within the same Institution, provided it secures the required facilities and approval.

Benjamin described the policy as part of a long term plan agreed upon by education stakeholders to strengthen teacher education, improve the image of the teaching profession and increase the number of qualified teachers in Nigeria.