The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, issued a directive on Monday while overseeing the ongoing 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.
 He emphasized that the minimum age requirement for university admission should be 18, aligning with the 6-3-3-4 education system in Nigeria.
Expressing concern, Mamman Condemned parents who pressured their underage children to pursue admission into tertiary institutions prematurely.
 He highlighted instances where students as young as 15 or 16 are attempting entrance exams, stressing that such pressure often stems from parental influence rather than the students’ understanding of university education.
“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old going in for the entrance examination.”
Addressing the need for alternative pathways, Mamman underscored the importance of skills acquisition for students who may not secure admission into tertiary institutions.
“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about.â€
He revealed the ministry’s initiative to introduce skills training from the primary school level, aiming to equip students with practical abilities beyond academic qualifications.
Mamman also shed light on the disparity between the limited spaces available in tertiary institutions and the large number of students seeking admission.
He noted that only 20 percent of students can be accommodated in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education combined, leaving the remaining 80 percent without traditional academic paths.
 “it is 20 per cent that can be admitted into the university, polytechnic, and colleges of education systems.”
“So, where will the 80 per cent go? That is why the issue of skill acquisition is very important.”
 Consequently, he emphasized the critical role of skill acquisition in ensuring that all students have viable opportunities for meaningful livelihoods after completing primary and secondary education.
“Any student who is unable to proceed to tertiary institutions should be able to have a meaningful life after primary and secondary school education, and the only solution to this is skill acquisition.”
