The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an injunction preventing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from enforcing its recent policy that mandates a minimum age of 16 years for university admissions in Nigeria. This decision will remain in effect until the court hears and resolves the motion filed against JAMB.
On October 16, JAMB announced that only candidates who turn 16 by August 2025 would be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions. This policy followed the Ministry of Education’s new directive, which sets 18 years as the minimum age for university admission, though JAMB made an exception for students applying for the 2024/2025 academic session.
John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Warri branch, challenged this directive in court, representing all candidates born between September 1 and December 31, 2009, who took and passed the JAMB exams in 2024. He filed a suit, marked W/311/FHR/2021, against JAMB and Edwin Clark University.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the requested reliefs. The applicant sought an order to stop the respondents from implementing the October 16 directive regarding the minimum age requirement and to prevent any withdrawal of admission for Angel Aikpokpo Martins, ensuring her access to educational facilities at the second respondent institution.
Justice Olotu stated that the court’s reliefs were granted to protect the rights of all Nigerian children born in the specified timeframe who passed their JAMB exams in 2024. As a result, the JAMB circular to universities dated October 16 is now on hold, maintaining the admission status prior to this directive until the court hears the originating motion filed on October 24. The court also approved requests for substituted service and accelerated hearing.
Peoplesmind
