BREAKING: FG Scraps 18-Year Admission Age Limit In Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government has officially removed the 18-year age benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The decision was announced by the new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa on Tuesday.

Dr. Alausa revealed the move during his inaugural ministerial press briefing in Abuja, where he highlighted the government’s commitment to making higher education more accessible and inclusive.

By removing the age restriction, the government aims to broaden educational opportunities and address the diverse learning paces of Nigerian students.

“We recognize that education should not be defined by age, but by competence and readiness,” the Minister said, emphasizing that the policy change would allow more Nigerians, regardless of age, to pursue higher education.

Amidst this new development, the Minister reaffirmed that the federal government’s stance on invalidating over 22,700 degree certificates obtained from so-called “fake” universities in neighboring Togo and Benin Republic remains unchanged.

Dr. Alausa warned that degrees obtained from unaccredited institutions outside the country would continue to face scrutiny, as the government intensifies efforts to protect the quality of Nigeria’s education system.

The minister also hinted at plans for an overall review of the nation’s education policy, promising Nigerians a comprehensive approach to revamping the sector.

“Our policies will be reviewed to align with global standards and address current challenges in our education system,” Alausa stated.