The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has screened 176 exceptionally brilliant underage candidates who scored high marks in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The special exercise, which took place simultaneously in Abuja, Owerri, and Lagos, was aimed at identifying and assessing gifted candidates below the age of 16 who displayed outstanding academic potential in this year’s UTME.
Speaking to journalists at the Abuja centre on Wednesday, the Chairman of the screening panel, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, described the process as smooth and transparent.
He explained that the exercise involved a written test followed by a face-to-face interview session.
“They started with a written paper that lasted about 20 minutes. After marking, they proceeded to the next stage, and finally, we had a one-on-one interaction with them,” Adedoja said.
The former Minister of Sports disclosed that while 22 candidates were screened in Abuja, a total of 176 candidates participated nationwide.
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, who monitored the exercise, commended JAMB for creating opportunities for gifted students to showcase their talents.
He also reaffirmed the National Assembly’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms, describing JAMB’s consistent and transparent operations as a model for other agencies.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, Hon. Oboku Oforji, praised the candidates for their exceptional performances, saying it reflects Nigeria’s growing academic competitiveness in Africa.
According to JAMB, a total of 41,027 candidates applied under the category of “exceptionally brilliant underage candidates” for the 2025 UTME. Out of this number, 599 scored 80 per cent and above, but many were later disqualified for not meeting the minimum requirements in their O’Level or Post-UTME results — leaving only 176 shortlisted for final assessment.
The screening panel included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), vice-chancellors, and the Gifted School, among others.
In Nigeria, the minimum age for university admission is officially 16, although the national policy encourages candidates to attain 18 years before proceeding to higher institutions.
JAMB’s move has continued to attract commendations from education stakeholders who say the initiative will help nurture young intellectuals capable of driving innovation and excellence in the country’s academic system.
