The Federal Government has reversed the 18 years admission age into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, as introduced by the former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman. The new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the pronouncement in Abuja while addressing Journalists alongside the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, on their programs for the Education Sector.

Galaxy Television reports that the Minister said the earlier decision not 18 years Admission age was as a result of the new policy recently introduced noting that, the Federal Government after a careful consideration of the decision has no choice than to abolish it. He revealed that the government has discontinued with the 18-years admission benchmark and stick to the 16 years arrangement stressing that, there will be an arrangement with JAMB and others on that. He also hinted at the possibility of reviewing the nation’s education policy.

However, on the issue of fake certificates, the minister stated that there would be no reversal of the Federal Government’s decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians from some fake universities in neighboring Togo and the Benin Republic. He stated that practical education will help to address the unemployment situation in Nigeria, as tertiary institutions will not continue to churn out graduates every year without providing jobs for them.

He mentioned that the federal government will collaborate with private sector operators to train students and unleash their potential. Alausa added that universities of agriculture will be empowered to adopt commercial farming practices to combat food insecurity