Abuja, Nigeria — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that only a small percentage of underage candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) demonstrate exceptional academic ability.
According to the board, just 1.16% of candidates below the officially recommended age for university admission achieve top-tier results in the national exam. This was revealed as part of JAMB’s ongoing review of performance trends across different age groups.
Despite an increase in the number of underage applicants—many of whom are pushed through the system by ambitious academic programs or parental pressure—JAMB noted that the overwhelming majority fail to meet the academic standards required for higher education.
“While a few underage candidates do perform well, data clearly shows that only a very small fraction excel at a level we consider exceptional,” JAMB stated. “This raises questions about their readiness for the demands of university education.”
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The board warned against the trend of fast-tracking students through primary and secondary education, stressing that emotional maturity and psychological preparedness are just as critical as intellectual ability. It urged parents and schools to consider the long-term implications of early university admission.
JAMB emphasized that its age policy exists not to restrict opportunity, but to ensure students enter higher education at a stage where they can succeed academically and personally.
The latest statistics have reignited debate among educators and parents about the right age for university entry and the overall pressure placed on young learners in the Nigerian educational system.
