The ongoing 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting in Abuja turned rowdy today Thursday as non-state stakeholders vehemently protested the new minimum admission age of 18 years proposed by government functionaries led by the Minister of Education.
Made up of tertiary institutions representatives across the country, stakeholders loudly expressed their disapproval over an announcement by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
Confronted by a rowdy reception to his idea, the Minister paused in his address to ask: “Are we together?”
“No!” the hall echoed.
Vice Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Kayode Ijaduola, stood up and stated that candidates had already sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and should be allowed to get admission, irrespective of their age.
Other stakeholders spoke in the same vein, and insisted that candidates above age 16 should be admitted for the 2024 academic session.
At that point, the Minister and JAMB withdrew their newly announced ban on candidates under 18 years old.
JAMB officials stated that the new minimum admission age requirement would now come into effect next year.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, unveiled the list of UTME 2024 top scorers:
1. Olowu David – 367- Ondo state
2. Alayande David- 367- Oyo state
3. Orukpe Joel-367- Edo
4. Emmanuel Jeremiah-366- Akwa-Ibom
5. Essiet Etini-365-Akwa-Ibom
6. Ezenwoko Zara-365-Abia
7. Umoh Joshua-365-Akwa-Ibom
8. Mamudu Abdulraham-364-Edo
9. Adeleke Abdulbasit-363-Kwara
10. Echem Victor-363-Rivers
11. Etute Emmanuel-363- Edo
12. Jedidiah Chidiebube-363-Imo
13. Adesanya Oluwatimilehin-363-Ogun
