In a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday, September 6, the Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, cleared the air regarding the age limit controversy surrounding national examinations. The Minister stated that there are no age restrictions for students taking the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
This clarification comes in response to widespread rumors and misunderstandings regarding examination age requirements. Dr. Sununu emphasized that recent statements by government officials were misinterpreted to imply that age limits had been imposed on these examinations.
“We have made ourselves clear in different forums, but the issue keeps resurfacing. Neither I nor the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made any statement regarding age limits for WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB,” Dr. Sununu said.
He further explained that the age restriction that had been referenced pertains strictly to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and university entry requirements. From 2025 onwards, the minimum age for sitting for the UTME will be 18 years, in line with the National Policy on Education. This policy adjustment is meant to ensure that candidates are of an appropriate age to handle the rigors of university education.
Dr. Sununu stressed that the government’s focus is on maintaining educational standards and ensuring that younger candidates are not rushed into university environments without the necessary maturity.
In conclusion, students of any age are still eligible to sit for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB examinations, while the new age policy will only apply to university admissions from 2025. The government urged the public to rely on verified information to avoid further confusion on the matter.
