ASUU backs Nigerian government on 18 years minimum age for University admission

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed its full support for the Nigerian government’s proposal to adopt 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

This was made known by the ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who described the government’s consideration as a welcome development.

Osodeke said, “We are in full support. It is the right thing. What the minister said is the correct thing.

“The issue of age benchmark is not a new thing. It’s just that regulators have not been doing their work.

“In those days, you could not go to primary school if you were not six years old. Then you spend six years and finish at age 12, and then by the time you get to secondary school you spend six years and then you graduate by 18.”

This is just as the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, on Monday, disclosed that the Nigerian government was considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

Mamman had accused underage students admitted in universities and other tertiary institutions, of being responsible for some of the problems being encountered in higher institutions across the country.

Recall that the current admission age into most universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria is 16 years.

The Senate in 2021 had announced plans to amend the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to limit the age of a candidate sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to 16 years and above.

Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who was then the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, noted then during the committee’s oversight visit to JAMB, that the amendment would prevent underage from participating in the examination to gain admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

However, speaking while monitoring the ongoing UTME in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education warned parents against pushing their children and wards early into university.

According to Mamman, parents not pushing their children too much would allow them to attain some level of maturity to be able to better manage their affairs.

“We are going to look at that; 18 is the entry age for university but you will see students, 15, and 16, going to the examination. It is not good for us. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards or children too much,” he said.