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WAEC and NECO Exams Not for under 18 — Minister
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has clarified that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) are not for under eighteen-year-old candidates in secondary schools to sit for.
Prof Mamman disclosed this when he appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ programme on Sunday night.
He stressed that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) must now enforce an 18-year age limit for candidates taking the WASSCE and SSCE exams, respectively.
The minister also clarified that this is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations.
His words: “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18
he minister also clarified that this is not a new policy but a reinforcement of existing regulations.
His words: “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.
“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.
“So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing. In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth, will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations.
In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”
The minister also stated that the age limit for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains set at 18 years.
News
Goodluck Jonathan’s son graduates from UK varsity
The former president and his wife have two children, Ariwera Jonathan and Aruabi Jonathan.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has celebrated the graduation of his son, Ariwera Jonathan, from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
Jonathan shared the news on his official Facebook page on Thursday, where he expressed pride in his son’s accomplishment and extended his best wishes for the future.
He wrote: “Congratulations to our son, Ariwera, on your graduation from Manchester Metropolitan University. Your mother and I are proud of your hard work. Wishing you the very best and a successful future ahead.”
The announcement was accompanied by photographs from the graduation ceremony showing Jonathan, his wife, Patience Jonathan, and their son.
The former president and his wife have two children, Ariwera Jonathan and Aruabi Jonathan.
News
Lagos approves harmonised 2026/2027 academic calendar for public, private schools
The approved calendar shows that the 2026/2027 academic session will commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, after a two-day Staff Professional Development (SPD) programme scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2026.
The Lagos State Government has approved a harmonised academic calendar for all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state for the 2026/2027 academic session, aligning both categories of schools under a single schedule.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, in a statement published on the official X account of the Lagos State Government on Thursday.
The approved calendar shows that the 2026/2027 academic session will commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, after a two-day Staff Professional Development (SPD) programme scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2026.
The first term will run until December 18, 2026, followed by a vacation from December 21, 2026, to January 8, 2027. The second term will begin on January 11, 2027, and end on April 16, 2027, while the third term will run from May 3 to July 30, 2027, with the long vacation commencing on August 2, 2027.
The move formalises a unified academic timetable for both public and private schools, replacing the previous practice where schools could operate on different calendars.
It is expected to improve coordination and consistency across the state’s basic and secondary education system while providing parents, teachers, and students with a predictable academic schedule.
The calendar allocates 64 school days for the first term, 61 school days for the second term and 57 school days for the third term, bringing the total number of instructional days for the 2026/2027 academic session to 182 days.
News
2027: IGP Orders Nationwide Mop-Up of Illegal Arms From Citizens
Disu emphasised we have to talk to members of the public, we have to do advocacy… And most importantly, so that we can do civil disarmament; civil disarmament of people with illegal arms in their possession.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has ordered a nationwide civil disarmament operation, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu issued the directive during a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja by the Director – General of the National Centre For The Control Of Small Arms and Light Weapons, DIG Johnson Kokomo (rtd).
While expressing worries that illegally-manufactured small arms and light weapons were being transported across the country by road, and water, the IGP said operations aimed at dismantling arms manufacturing factories, as well as black markets, had been intensified.
Disu emphasised we have to talk to members of the public, we have to do advocacy… And most importantly, so that we can do civil disarmament; civil disarmament of people with illegal arms in their possession.
” We need to talk about it, we need to let people know that it is not only us putting on uniforms that are security operatives. “Everybody is the police, and the police are the com- munity, and the community are the police.“
So, everybody should know (that) anybody carry- ing illegal arms around, is going to use it on another citizen of the country”.
He continued: “So, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we recover all arms.
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