Federal government has officially abolished the controversial 18-year minimum admission age for students into tertiary institutions.
The newly appointed Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the reversal during his inaugural press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa stated that the removal of the 18-year benchmark was part of an effort to review and update the nation’s education policies.
“He emphasized that his administration would focus on creating a more flexible and inclusive education system to better serve the needs of Nigerian students.
“However, he made it clear that the federal government would not reverse its decision regarding the invalidation of over 22,700 degree certificates obtained from unaccredited universities in neighboring countries, particularly Togo and Benin Republic.
“The abolition of the 18-year age limit is expected to have significant implications on access to tertiary education in Nigeria, particularly for older students who were previously excluded”.
While the move has been praised by some education advocates for its potential to expand opportunities, concerns have been raised about the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that these changes do not compromise the quality of education.
Further details on the proposed education reforms are anticipated in the coming weeks as the Ministry of Education continues to evaluate the country’s educational landscape.
