The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has taken steps to challenge a recent court ruling that struck down its minimum age policy for university admissions.
According to TheCable, JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed on Friday that the board has appealed the ruling and requested a stay of execution.
This means that the 16-year minimum age requirement remains in effect until a higher court delivers a verdict.
The case originated from a decision by the Delta State High Court in Warri, which barred JAMB from enforcing its policy that set 16 as the minimum admissible age for tertiary institutions.
Justice Anthony O. Akpovi, who presided over the case, issued the ruling after a lawsuit was filed by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins.
Aikpokpo-Martins argued that the age restriction violated sections 18(1) and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court concurred, ruling that the policy discriminates against otherwise qualified candidates based solely on age, thereby denying them equal access to education.
As a result, JAMB’s directive, issued on October 16, 2024, which required candidates to be at least 16 by August 31, 2025, was declared unconstitutional and void.
With this ruling, universities and JAMB were instructed to admit all eligible candidates without age-based limitations. An injunction was also issued, preventing JAMB and higher institutions from enforcing age restrictions during the admission process.
During the legal proceedings, JAMB’s counsel, A. O. Mohammed, contended that section 18(1) of the Constitution, which calls for equal educational opportunities, was non-justiciable as it falls under Chapter 2. However, Aikpokpo-Martins, who represented himself, countered that when combined with section 42, which prohibits discrimination, the provision becomes enforceable. The court ultimately ruled in his favor.
The minimum age for tertiary admission has been a topic of debate. In July 2024, then-Education Minister Tahir Mamman set 18 as the minimum age for university admissions.
However, following his removal, his successor, Tunji Alausa, revised the policy, lowering the threshold back to 16.
JAMB previously allowed exceptionally gifted candidates below 16 to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as an exception.
Under its standard protocol, however, candidates younger than 16 were not eligible for the UTME or admission into Nigerian universities.
