108 of Nigeria's under-16 exam stars cleared for university
About 39,000 underage candidates sat the 2026 UTME; 391 scored 320 or more, and 108 passed every test to be considered for early admission.
Abuja — Nigeria's minimum age for university admission is 16, but exceptional younger candidates can still get in. This year 108 made the cut, Education Minister Tunji Alausa said on Wednesday in Abuja as he received the top performers, Vanguard reports.
The funnel
- 2,174,396 candidates sat the 2026 UTME (2,244,149 registered).
- About 39,000 of them were under 16.
- 391 of those scored at least 320 out of 400.
- 108 passed every further assessment and remain eligible for admission.
The criteria
An underage candidate needs at least 320 in the UTME, 80% in the post-UTME, an 80% score in the assessment of their O'level results, and must pass a screening of psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness for university.
The best
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin topped the group with 372, followed by Enwere Kingsley Ikenna with 370. Eight candidates, presented by JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina, received plaques and certificates.
The thinking
Alausa said the age limit is meant to make sure students are mature enough for university life, not to hold back gifted children: academic results alone do not show readiness, which also needs emotional stability. He congratulated the candidates on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, called them the geniuses in Nigerian society, and urged them to treat their talent as a responsibility, saying they could change Nigeria and the world with their innovations.
Source: Vanguard via AllAfrica, 22 October 2026.
