Nigerian Senate Supports 18 Years as Minimum Age for University Admission

The Nigerian Senate has expressed support for setting the minimum age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in the country at 18 years. This move comes after the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, directed that admission should not be given to candidates less than 18 years old, in line with the 6-3-3-4 system of education.

Senator Muntari Dandutse, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, stated that the committee would back any initiative taken by the government to expedite the admissions process, particularly with regard to the minimum age requirement. He emphasized that the age limit of 18 years proposed by the Minister of Education is sacrosanct and would ensure that minors do not find their way into universities.

The committee members, including Senator Sunday Karimi, believe that limiting admission of students to 12 years old before secondary school would ensure they have the mental and emotional preparedness required for dealing with the challenges of secondary education. Senator Karimi, representing Kogi West, said there is an existing law mandating admission for candidates who are 18 years old, and the lawmakers plan to amend and strengthen this law.

Why this matters: The decision to set the minimum age for university admission at 18 has significant implications for the Nigerian education system and society as a whole. It aims to ensure that students are mentally and emotionally prepared for the rigors of tertiary education, while also preventing the admission of underage candidates who may struggle to cope with the demands of university life.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has also expressed its full support for the new entry age policy, with the ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, describing it as "the right thing to do" and stating that "regulators have not been doing their work in enforcing the appropriate age for admission." The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NPTAN) has urged the government to involve major examination bodies like WAEC, JAMB, and NECO to make this a policy that would work effectively, suggesting that these bodies should only register students who have attained the appropriate ages for the examinations they conduct.

Key Takeaways

• Nigerian Senate supports 18-year minimum age for university admission.
• Minister of Education directed tertiary institutions to not admit candidates under 18.
• Senate committee backs 18-year age limit to prevent minors from enrolling.
• Existing law mandating 18-year admission age to be amended and strengthened.
• ASUU and NPTAN support the new 18-year minimum age policy for universities.