by Precious Folorunsho

A public affairs commentator, comrade Jimoh Alikinla, has expressed that the enforced requirement by the federal government is long overdue and he is very happy about it. 

Alikinla made this remark on the Diamond Breakfast show on the 28th of August, 2024 at Diamond Fm, Ilorin Kwara State. 

Recall that the federal government directed WAEC and NECO to enforce the 18 year age requirement for candidates making those under 18 prohibited from taking the examinations. 

Alikinla stated that Nigerians have a history of how such condition benefited them, making reference to the “6 3 3 4” education system of 1985 which further brought about professionals and doctors; however, he claimed that the reverse is the case today.  

“We have history which we’ve benefited from.. you must be six or your hand must pass your head before you can get admitted to primary school”

He further emphasized that maturity is the main factor in this setting and such a system will help enforce maturity of students or candidates. He said that the majority of immature students in the institution have brought about a dejected system and maturity is the best principle to uphold.

“Teaching underage people gives them knowledge above their capacity which makes them genius but evil genius.. leads to where we have a lot of yahoo yahoo and a lot of social vices.” 

He added that their brains are not mature enough to accommodate what they are getting from the higher institution and as a result they give retrogressive results.

Alikinla stated that the potential impact of this system is the limit of those going into the university system. In his words, the institution will consist of mature people who are ready to cope. He added that during the period of waiting, they can learn their craftwork and become employers rather than employees without it affecting their knowledge from school. 

“Nothing will happen to their knowledge based on the fact that it is being utilized in another format”. 

Finally, he concluded on the note that decision making is a process which requires carefulness and in every decision made in life there will be a group to pay the price while another group will enjoy the price.