By Milcah Tanimu

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning against the enrollment of minors in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This cautionary statement comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke, who alleged that her 15-year-old daughter received inappropriate text messages during her registration process.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, clarified that the sender of the messages was not affiliated with the board but was, in fact, a fellow student. Despite reporting the incident to security agencies for appropriate action, Mrs. Eke proceeded with a N100 million lawsuit against JAMB and others.

Oloyede emphasized the importance of abiding by age requirements for university admission, highlighting the standard educational timeline of six years in primary school and six years in secondary school, culminating in eligibility at 18 years old. He questioned how a 15-year-old could be deemed ready for university education without bypassing legal educational standards.

Furthermore, JAMB announced measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including holding examination centers accountable for negligence and restricting parental involvement during candidate screenings. Oloyede stressed the need for parents to prioritize their children’s maturity before registering for UTME, warning against jeopardizing their academic future due to emotional impulses or indiscipline.

In light of these developments, JAMB remains committed to upholding the integrity of the examination process and ensuring a fair and secure environment for all candidates.