Straightnews
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced the abolition of the 18-year minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 5, during his inaugural ministerial briefing in Abuja.
Recall that Professor Tahir Mamman, the outgone Nigeria’s Minister of Education, announced the 18-year age limit for students to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria in August 2024.
Alausa also stated that his administration might soon undertake a review of Nigeria’s education policy to address current challenges and improve outcomes in the sector.
Related news: Nigerian Govt backtracks On Under-18 age limit for WAEC, NECO Exams
In addressing related issues, the Minister confirmed that there will be no reversal of the Federal Government’s recent decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians from “fake” universities in neighboring countries, including Togo and Benin Republic.
He emphasized that the crackdown on unaccredited institutions is part of efforts to uphold educational standards and protect the integrity of Nigerian qualifications.
Alausa also stressed the importance of practical education as a solution to Nigeria’s unemployment crisis, suggesting that tertiary institutions should focus on producing graduates with job-ready skills rather than merely increasing graduate numbers each year.
