The Federal Government has cleared only 108 out of about 39,000 underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for possible admission into tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the two highest-scoring candidates and six other outstanding underage candidates presented by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina.
Alausa said the successful candidates emerged after a rigorous screening exercise designed to assess their academic performance and psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness for university education.
According to the minister, 2,244,149 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, while 2,174,396 sat the examination. About 39,000 of those who took the test were below the minimum admission age of 16.
He explained that underage candidates seeking admission before reaching the prescribed age were required to score at least 320 out of 400 in the UTME, representing 80 per cent.
They were also required to score at least 80 per cent in their post-UTME examinations, meet the stipulated threshold in the assessment of their O’level results and pass additional screening to establish their readiness for university education.
Alausa disclosed that only 391 underage candidates scored 320 or above in the UTME, while further assessments reduced the number eligible for possible admission to 108.
He said the successful candidates represented approximately 0.005 per cent of those who sat the examination.
“You are the geniuses in our society,” the minister told the candidates, adding that their abilities could help them develop solutions to challenges facing Nigeria and the wider world.
Alausa stressed that the minimum admission age policy was not intended to frustrate academically gifted children but to ensure they possessed the maturity required to cope with university life.
He noted that high examination scores alone were insufficient to determine whether a candidate was ready for tertiary education, adding that emotional stability and the ability to navigate social and intellectual challenges were equally important.
The minister urged the successful candidates to use their abilities for the benefit of society rather than view early admission solely as an opportunity for personal advancement.
At the event, eight candidates, including the two highest scorers in the 2026 UTME, received plaques and certificates in recognition of their performance.
Daniella Owoeye Jesudunsin emerged as the highest-scoring candidate with 372 marks, followed by Enwere Kingsley Ikenna, who scored 370.
Alausa said the Federal Government would continue to pursue education reforms aimed at expanding opportunities for young Nigerians and developing their potential to contribute to national development.
