Kehinde Fajobi
The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an interim order preventing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from enforcing its recent policy that mandates a minimum age of 16 for university admissions in Nigeria.
This ruling will stand until the court hears and determines the motion on notice filed against the board.
On October 16, JAMB announced that candidates would need to be at least 16 by August 2025 to qualify for admission into tertiary institutions. This policy follows a new directive from the Ministry of Education that raises the minimum admission age to 18 for tertiary institutions.
However, JAMB allowed an exception for candidates seeking admission in the 2024/2025 session.
Former Nigerian Bar Association Warri branch chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, challenged JAMB’s policy in court on behalf of students born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who passed the 2024 JAMB exams. The case, filed under suit number W/311/FHR/2021, names JAMB and Edwin Clark University as the 1st and 2nd respondents, respectively.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the reliefs sought by Aikpokpo-Martins.
According to a Certified True Copy of the ruling, the applicant requested that the court restrain the respondents from implementing JAMB’s October 16 directive, titled “Admission of candidates with minimum admissible age of 16 years,” pending the motion’s determination.
Aikpokpo-Martins also sought an interim order preventing the respondents from rescinding the admission of Angel Aikpokpo Martins, a candidate affected by the policy, or restricting her access to educational facilities at Edwin Clark University as a student until the matter is resolved.
Justice Akpovi stated, “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted to preserve and protect the respondents, which is the right of every Nigerian child born on the 1st of September 2009 to the 31st of December 2009, who wrote and passed JAMB exams in 2024 to remain duly admitted by 1st respondent as it applies to all Nigerian Universities including 2nd respondent.”
He further added, “The effect is that the 1st respondent’s circular to Vice Chancellors, Provost, Rectors dated 16/10/24 Ref: JAMB/ADMS/139/V.111 is put in abeyance and on hold, and the status quo to be maintained is the admission list prior to this circular pending the hearing of the originating motion dated and filed 24/10/24.”
The court also granted requests for substituted service by courier and an accelerated hearing.