The Federal Government has clarified that there is no age restriction for students sitting for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.
This clarification was made by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, as part of the activities leading up to the 2024 World Literacy Day. He addressed misunderstandings surrounding the government’s stance on age limits, which were mistakenly interpreted to include WAEC and NECO.
Dr. Sununu emphasized that the age limit of 18 years applies solely to students taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and entering universities from 2025. He further explained that neither the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, nor himself, had ever imposed an age restriction on WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB exams.
The Minister attributed the confusion to the misinterpretation of statements regarding university entry requirements, reaffirming that there is no policy preventing younger students from taking WAEC or NECO. However, he reiterated the importance of aligning education with Nigeria’s National Policy on Education, which suggests that students should complete secondary school at around 18 years of age.
Despite the policy regarding university entry age, Dr. Sununu clarified that students are still free to take WAEC and NECO exams at their own pace, without any age-related barriers. He urged the public to understand the distinctions between the various educational requirements.
The announcement comes amidst growing concerns about the increasing trend of underage students completing secondary education early and entering universities at young ages, often lacking the maturity to handle university life. However, the government remains firm on its decision to enforce the 18-year age limit for UTME starting from 2025.
