Nigeria enforces 18-year age limit for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB exams
Nigeria enforces 18-year age limit for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB exams
The Federal Government has officially barred underage candidates from sitting for secondary school leaving exams conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Additionally, the government reaffirmed that the age requirement for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remains 18 years, effective from the 2025 academic session.
During an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics,’ the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, emphasized that WAEC and NECO must enforce the 18-year age limit for candidates taking the WASSCE and SSCE exams. He clarified that the policy is not new but a reinforcement of existing regulations.
Mamman explained that, ideally, students should be around 17 and a half years old by the time they complete their education journey from early childhood through primary and secondary school. He added that from 2025, underage candidates will no longer be allowed to take these exams, and universities will strictly enforce the 18-year age requirement for admission.