The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has explained why Kareem Kaamilah Omolarami, an exceptional Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate who scored 371, was excluded from the final stage of its special vetting process for underage candidates.
Omolarami, who applied to Nile University, was among the 41,027 candidates below the age of 16 who sat for the 2025 UTME.
Her remarkable score placed her among the top-performing underage applicants.
However, JAMB said she did not complete the required screening stages to move forward in the special admissions process.
According to a statement from the examination body, although Omolarami passed the first two screening stages, she was absent during the university’s internal evaluation, a critical third stage of the four-tier vetting process.
“This report was formally transmitted to the board by the institution, thereby rendering her ineligible to participate in the final screening exercise,” JAMB clarified.
“Her non-invitation to the final stage was therefore not due to any administrative oversight, bias, or procedural lapse on the part of the board.”
By federal policy, students must be at least 16 years old to enter tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
However, JAMB introduced a vetting system to accommodate academically gifted underage candidates, allowing them a chance at early admission, but only through a rigorous, multi-phase screening.
In 2025, 176 out of over 41,000 underage UTME candidates met the initial eligibility requirements.
The selection criteria included a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80% in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), successful participation in the internal screening of their chosen university (also requiring 80%) and a final JAMB-administered interview and written test, with another 80% benchmark.
Omolarami had cleared the first two stages but was not available for Nile University’s internal screening, disqualifying her from reaching the final phase, a national-level vetting overseen directly by JAMB.
The board reaffirmed that the selection process remains strictly merit-based and transparent, thanks to its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
This digital platform ensures that all admissions are data-driven, verifiable, and free from manipulation.
While universities conduct internal screenings and recommend candidates for admission, JAMB retains oversight authority and ensures that every recommendation aligns with national standards.
Of the 176 underage candidates initially shortlisted, JAMB confirmed that 84 have successfully completed all stages.
Their results are now being processed and will be forwarded to their respective institutions for final admission consideration.
