- JAMB clarified that Kareem Omolarami failed to attend the university’s internal screening, disqualifying her from the final vetting.
- The underage UTME candidate scored 371 but could not complete all four stages of JAMB’s vetting process.
- JAMB emphasised that the vetting procedure ensures fairness, transparency, and compliance with the minimum age rule of 16.
- The board reaffirmed its commitment to transparent admissions through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed public concerns over the exclusion of 15 year old Kareem Kaamilah Omolarami, who scored an impressive 371 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), from the final vetting exercise for underage candidates.
In a statement issued by the board, JAMB clarified that the Federal Ministry of Education maintains a policy requiring candidates to be at least 16 years old before gaining admission into any Nigerian tertiary institution. This policy, according to JAMB, is designed to ensure students possess the necessary emotional and mental maturity to cope with higher education demands.
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However, the board stated that in 2025, it introduced a special vetting procedure for exceptional underage candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic potential. Out of 41,027 underage applicants who took the UTME under this category, only 176 advanced to the final screening stage after meeting specific academic and age-related conditions.
JAMB explained that Omolarami, who applied for admission to Nile University, successfully passed the first two phases of the vetting process but failed to attend the institution’s internal screening, which serves as the third stage. Consequently, she did not qualify for the final JAMB-administered screening, which is the fourth and concluding stage of the process.
The board outlined the criteria for the four-stage vetting process: candidates must first score a minimum of 320 in UTME, achieve at least 80 per cent in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), meet the university’s internal screening threshold of 80 per cent, and finally attain 80 per cent or higher in the JAMB-administered test.
JAMB stated that Nile University formally notified the board of Omolarami’s absence during the school’s internal assessment, making her ineligible for the final screening. It emphasised that her exclusion was not due to administrative error or bias but was in line with the board’s established vetting standards.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, JAMB noted that the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) remains the official platform for coordinating all admission processes across Nigerian tertiary institutions. The system, the board said, helps to eliminate human interference and ensures fairness for all candidates.
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Furthermore, JAMB disclosed that the results of 84 successful underage candidates are currently being processed and will soon be forwarded to their respective universities for final admission consideration.
The board also reaffirmed its continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and tertiary institutions to uphold academic integrity and ensure that admission into Nigerian universities remains transparent and merit-based.
