Concerned parents whose children/ wards will clock sixteen years in September, 2026 have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Remi Tinubu to prevail on Prof. Oloyede , the Registrar of JAMB and the Minister of Education to extend admission age to those that will be 16 years by the end of 2025/2026 academic session.
Speaking on behalf of the concerned parents, Prof. Atiba Adeniran Samuel affirmed that though the group is not against the policy of 16 years admission age limit but it shouldn’t start at this intermediate level.
They urged government to start the implementation of the policy from the entry age to primary school. “We expect enforcement at this level. A child of 4 years who is prevented from being admitted into a primary school has no emotional attachment. Unlike, a teenager who has passed all prerequisite examinations to be admitted into higher institutions. This is the emotional challenges we are facing at home with our children.
“On our enquiries, it was gathered that our kids signed undertaking only to be allowed to write the examination without using same for admission. We wonder what kind of undertaking was signed without their parents?
“It is also said that a child who is to turn 16 by next year September is psychologically unstable. Can JAMB know our children more than us? Besides, has Nigeria Universities recorded any unwanted or unexpected behaviors from those that were admitted “underaged” in the past? We strongly believe that enforcement of policy should be based on occurrences of some unpalatable experiences from these “underaged” in the past.
“JAMB also gave an explanation that a meeting of Vice Chancellors across the country were called to enforce this *teenagers unfriendly policy* and the majority of them agreed. Why won’t they agree when the Minister called his appointees to agree on an issue, what do we expect. Besides, majority of them don’t have children seeking for admission any longer.
They charged JAMB and Ministry of Education to call meetings of younger Vice Chancellors and that of Private Universities, saying Their opinions to policy would be different.
“We appeal to our dear President and the mother of these children, Her excellency Remi Tinubu to urgently intervene as many schools are closing up on admission for 2025/2026 academic session*.
“Our single prayer is children that will be 16 years before the end of 2025/2026 (September 30th, 2026) session be allowed to seek admission into any institution in Nigeria. This ground was shifted last year. We also encourage JAMB and Minister for Education to go back to the drawing board to strategize in enforcing this age policy from primary school education.