The Federal Government has officially barred individuals under the age of 18 from participating in the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated this while appearing on a Television programme on Sunday.
Prof. Mamman said that WAEC, responsible for conducting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and NECO, which oversees the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), have been instructed to strictly enforce the 18-year age requirement for all candidates.
He clarified that this is not a new policy but rather a reinforcement of existing guidelines.
Furthermore, the age limit for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains set at 18 years.
Prof. Mamman emphasized that this year serves as a notice period for parents, allowing students below the age of 18 to sit for the UTME.
However, starting next year, JAMB will strictly enforce the age requirement for university admissions in Nigeria.
“For clarity, this is not a new policy; it has been in place for a long time,” Mamman explained.
He noted that by the time students progress through the educational system—from early child care to primary and secondary schools—they should naturally reach the age of 17 and a half, making them eligible for the exams at 18.
He concluded by stating that NECO and WAEC will no longer permit underage candidates to sit for their examinations, ensuring that students have completed the requisite number of years at the appropriate educational level before attempting these critical assessments.
