The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a special screening for a select group of gifted teenagers who performed exceptionally well in their exams.
From September 22 to 26, 2025, more than 500 under-16 candidates will take part in an extra round of tests and interviews to determine if they are truly ready to begin university earlier than most of their peers.
According to JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the exercise will be held in three cities:
Lagos will host 397 candidates
Owerri will host 136 candidates
Abuja will host 66 candidates
This special arrangement was made because more than 41,000 underage students sat for the 2025 UTME. Out of that large number, only about 500 stood out with results strong enough to be considered.
Normally, the rule is clear: students must be at least 16 years old before entering any Nigerian university. But every year, there are a few teenagers who achieve outstanding scores and show the kind of brilliance that cannot be ignored. JAMB wants to give these exceptional students an opportunity while also making sure they are mature enough to cope with the challenges of higher education.
A committee led by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja explained that the selected students will face subject-based tests followed by a short oral interview. JAMB will also request result details directly from WAEC to confirm that each candidate truly earned their grades.
It is important to note that not every university is ready to welcome underage students. Institutions such as the Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, University of Jos, and Osun State University have already made it clear that they will not admit students below 16, no matter how brilliant they are.
To qualify for this special consideration, a candidate must meet some very high standards. They need to score at least 320 in UTME, achieve 80 percent or more in post-UTME, and record at least 80 percent in a single WAEC or NECO sitting.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Oloyede said, “Other countries already create pathways for gifted learners. We are simply applying that model here.”
This new initiative is not just about rewarding intelligence. It is also about protecting young students from unnecessary pressure, discouraging parents from falsifying ages, and making sure only those who are mentally and emotionally ready get into higher education early.
For most teenagers, university will still have to wait until 16. But for this small group of extraordinary students, the door might open a little earlier, if they can prove they are ready to walk through it.