FG Clears 108 Underage UTME Candidates for Possible University Admission

The Federal Government has cleared 108 underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for possible admission into tertiary institutions after a rigorous screening process.

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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the two highest-scoring candidates and six other outstanding underage candidates from the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina.

Alausa said nearly 39,000 candidates below the minimum admission age of 16 participated in the 2026 UTME, but only a small number met the requirements for consideration for early admission.

According to the minister, 2,244,149 candidates registered for the examination, while 2,174,396 sat for it. Of those who took the examination, approximately 39,000 were younger than 16.

He explained that underage candidates seeking admission had to score at least 320 out of 400 in the UTME, representing 80 per cent. They were also required to obtain a minimum of 80 per cent in their post-UTME examinations, meet the prescribed threshold in the assessment of their O-level results and pass additional screening.

The screening assessed their academic performance as well as their psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness for university education.

Alausa disclosed that 391 underage candidates achieved the minimum UTME score of 320, but further assessments reduced the number eligible for possible admission to 108.

He said the minimum admission age policy was not intended to prevent gifted children from advancing academically, but to ensure that candidates admitted at a young age possessed the maturity required to cope with university life.

The minister stressed that outstanding examination results alone were insufficient to justify early admission, noting that students must also demonstrate emotional stability and the ability to manage the social and intellectual demands of higher education.

He described the 108 candidates as exceptionally gifted and urged them to use their abilities to develop innovations that could address Nigeria’s challenges and contribute to global progress.

The government also recognised eight outstanding candidates, comprising the two highest scorers in the 2026 UTME and six other high-performing underage candidates. They received plaques and certificates during the meeting.

Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin emerged as the overall highest scorer in the examination with 372 marks, while Enwere Kingsley Ikenna came second with 370 marks.

The development highlights the Federal Government’s approach to considering exceptional underage candidates for early admission while maintaining academic and maturity requirements for entry into tertiary institutions.