By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s government over ban on admission of candidates who are under-18 into universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Senator Sani said that banning Nigerians under the age of 18 from gaining admission into tertiary institutions in the country is not only wrong but also a waste of the potential of young Nigerians who are born as geniuses.
“Banning Under 18 from gaining admission into university is wrong. Some are born geniuses. Don’t waste their intellect,” Sani said in a post on his X account on Thursday.
The former lawmaker said this while reacting to reports that the Nigerian government on Thursday banned the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from offering admission into tertiary institutions in the country to candidates under 18 years.
Newsspecing had earlier on Thursday reported that the Federal Government, through Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, declared the ban during the 2024 policy meeting of the JAMB.
Many Nigerians spoke against the policy alluding that it will affect universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher institutions.
Meanwhile the minister announced that a new curriculum would be introduced nation wide from September 2024.
He said the initiative, has been in development for the past year and it seeks to address several challenges in the education sector, including infrastructure deficits, unqualified teachers, and outdated curriculum
