The Federal Government of Nigeria has clarified that there is no age restriction for sitting the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. This comes after reports suggested a minimum age of 18 years.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, emphasized in Abuja on Friday that only the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has an age restriction of 18 years for university entry, effective from 2025. Dr. Sununu stated, “We have made it clear that there is no age limit for WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB exams.”
He added that the restriction applies solely to the UTME in accordance with the National Policy on Education, which outlines the expected school progression of children from primary to secondary school.
The clarification was made during a briefing on activities for the 2024 World Literacy Day themed “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.” The policy encourages the use of a child’s mother tongue or home language up to primary three, aiding early education.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Prof. Akpama Iboro, echoed the significance of multilingual education, stating, “Literacy in a multilingual world transcends the ability to read and write in a single language; it embodies cultural diversity and linguistic heritage.” The Commission remains dedicated to promoting literacy across all regions in Nigeria.
