A Good News For Underage Students

 Is-haq Oloyede Praised as JAMB Launches First National Support Programme for Underage University Students


The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has received widespread praise after the board organised what stakeholders described as Nigeria’s first national support initiative for exceptionally brilliant underage students admitted into universities.


The stakeholder engagement, held in Abuja, brought together education experts, university leaders, psychologists, parents, legal scholars and students to discuss how best to support underage students in higher institutions.


The event, organised by the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group on behalf of the registrar, focused on helping young students succeed academically, emotionally and socially while studying at the university level.


A total of 283 participants attended the meeting, which carried the theme, “Achieving Success in Higher Education of Underage Students Admitted in the 2025/2026 Session.”


Speaking after the event, Professor Peter Okebukola described the initiative as a major step forward for Nigeria’s education system. He said no country had previously created a national-level structure specifically designed to support gifted underage university students.


According to him, the programme shows JAMB’s determination to ensure that brilliant young students receive proper guidance and protection while pursuing higher education.


The engagement followed the admission of 96 students below the age of 16 into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session. JAMB explained that the students passed through a strict screening process approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.


To qualify, candidates were required to score at least 320 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, achieve a minimum of 80 per cent in post-UTME assessments and Senior School Certificate examinations, and also pass an independent expert interview assessment.


Professor Oloyede stated that the admissions were carefully planned and not based on emotions or favoritism. He explained that Nigeria’s education policy has long linked university admission to both academic ability and emotional readiness.


He added that some universities, including the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan, still strictly maintain the minimum admission age despite exceptional academic performance.


Professor Okebukola, who also chairs the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, said underage students should be seen as a national asset rather than a challenge. He revealed that each of the 96 students has been assigned a mentor to guide them throughout their academic journey.


He stressed that parents, universities, counsellors and administrators all have important roles in helping the students adjust successfully to university life.


The programme featured several technical sessions on academic support, mental health, emotional well-being and legal protection for underage students.


Experts discussed issues such as resilience, counselling strategies, child rights protection and how young students can cope with academic pressure and social adjustment on campus.


Some of the underage students also shared personal experiences about adapting to university life, balancing academic expectations and receiving institutional support.


During the meeting, stakeholders officially adopted the title “Exceptionally Brilliant Underage Students,” also known as EBUAS, for qualified students under the age of 16 admitted through the approved JAMB process.


Vice-chancellors from institutions currently admitting approved underage students, including the University of Ilorin, Covenant University and Afe Babalola University, also delivered goodwill messages during the event.


JAMB Equal Opportunity Group officials said the programme is only the beginning of a wider national support plan, with more stakeholder meetings expected across different regions of the country in the coming months.

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