The management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has announced that it will go ahead with the conduct of its Post-UTME screening exercise for underaged candidates who applied for admission into the institution for the 2025/2026 academic session.

This development comes amid concerns from parents and candidates about the eligibility of students who are below the officially recognized admission age but who nonetheless sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and chose UNILORIN as their first choice of institution.

Background

In Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has consistently maintained that candidates must be at least 16 years of age by the time of admission to be eligible for university admission. However, several candidates who are below this age benchmark often excel in UTME and seek admission into higher institutions.

To address this sensitive issue, UNILORIN management has decided to conduct the Post-UTME screening exercise for these underaged candidates, while aligning with JAMB’s admission guidelines.

Implications of the Decision

1. Fairness and Transparency: Conducting the Post-UTME allows underaged candidates to demonstrate their academic readiness, even if their final admission status will be subject to age policies.
2. Record Keeping: Screening underaged applicants ensures their data is captured in the university’s system, preventing them from being completely shut out of the process.
3. Conditional Admission: While underaged candidates may sit for the screening, their admission may be delayed or subject to JAMB regulations until they meet the minimum age requirement.

Advice to Candidates and Parents

• Candidates who fall into the underaged category are encouraged to participate fully in the Post-UTME screening exercise.
• Parents and guardians should, however, be aware that passing the Post-UTME does not automatically override the national admission age policy set by JAMB.
• Where admission is not immediately possible, such candidates may be required to defer their admission until they attain the eligible age.

Next Steps

• All underaged candidates are advised to log in to the UNILORIN Post-UTME portal to confirm their screening date, venue, and time.
• The university will release further guidelines regarding how the results of these candidates will be processed in line with JAMB’s admission policies.

Final Note

The decision by UNILORIN reflects the institution’s effort to strike a balance between acknowledging the academic potential of young candidates and complying with national admission regulations.

By conducting the Post-UTME for underaged applicants, the university ensures fairness in the screening process while providing clarity for students and parents ahead of the 2025/2026 admission exercise.