The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the introduction of an “Exceptionally Brilliant Window” for gifted candidates under the age of 16 to sit for the annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The revelation was made by JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, in a statement shared via the board’s official X handle. This groundbreaking initiative aims to accommodate prodigious young minds who, despite their age, have demonstrated remarkable academic excellence and are ready to advance to tertiary education.
The move marks a significant shift from the board’s previous stance, which barred candidates below 16 from taking the UTME. With this development, exceptionally talented students can now bypass the traditional age restriction, provided they meet JAMB’s rigorous assessment criteria.
Education analysts have hailed this decision as a progressive step toward fostering intellectual talent in Nigeria, ensuring that the nation’s brightest young minds are not hindered by bureaucratic limitations. However, the policy is expected to come with strict guidelines to ensure that only truly exceptional candidates benefit from the opportunity.
As JAMB rolls out this initiative, all eyes will be on the implementation process and its impact on Nigeria’s educational landscape. Will this open the floodgates for younger candidates in the long run, or will it remain an exclusive privilege for a select few? Time will tell.
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