JAMB Approves 85 Underage Candidates After Extensive Screening

JAMB approves 85 underage candidates after extensive screening.
41,027 applied underage, but only 85 met all admission requirements.
Candidates with missing O-Level results get two-day extension to comply.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved the admission of 85 underage candidates who will be below 16 years by September 2025, following what it described as a “rigorous and comprehensive screening” under its exceptional admission policy.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, explained that the decision aligns with global best practices, where underage admissions are treated as rare exceptions rather than the norm.

“The 85 candidates were adjudged qualified following meticulous evaluation and have been duly notified to proceed to their respective institutions to complete the admission process and print their individual JAMB admission letters,” Benjamin said.

In the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 2,031,133 candidates applied for admission, out of which 41,027 sought consideration under the underage category.

JAMB disclosed that 599 of those candidates scored at least 80 per cent in the UTME and were subjected to further scrutiny, including verification of school certificates and post-UTME performance.

After the review process, 182 candidates were shortlisted for final interviews and documentation, but only 85 met all requirements and were cleared for admission.

The Board urged any of the 182 finalists who missed the final interview due to valid reasons to submit a formal request through the JAMB Support Ticketing System under the category “2025 Underage Complaint.”

“Such complaints will be reviewed individually and treated strictly on merit,” JAMB assured.

The Board also gave a two-day grace period, ending Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to candidates who scored 320 and above in the UTME but were disqualified for failing to upload their O-Level results, urging them to complete the process and notify JAMB through the same system.

Reiterating its commitment to maintaining transparency, JAMB emphasized that its admission process remains “credible, transparent, and inclusive,” while upholding the standards of tertiary education in Nigeria.