Court Halts JAMB’s Age Restriction Policy, Orders Interim Measures

The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued a ruling that temporarily halts the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) new policy requiring students to be at least 16 years old to gain admission to Nigerian universities. The court’s order remains in effect until a full hearing on the matter is concluded.

JAMB’s directive, announced on October 16, 2024, specified that only candidates who turn 16 by August 2025 would be eligible for admission to tertiary institutions. This policy followed a broader guideline from the Ministry of Education, which set 18 years as the minimum age for entry into higher education. However, JAMB made an exception for students seeking admission in the 2024/2025 academic session.

The policy faced opposition, prompting John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Warri branch, to challenge it in court. Aikpokpo-Martins filed the case on behalf of students born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who had passed the 2024 JAMB exams but were at risk of losing their admission opportunities due to the age requirement. The legal action named JAMB as the first respondent and Edwin Clark University as the second respondent.

In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted Aikpokpo-Martins’ requests for interim relief, effectively pausing JAMB’s age restriction policy. The ruling ensures that the students affected by the policy can retain their admission status while the case is heard. The court order also prevents JAMB from enforcing its circular dated October 16, 2024, which mandated the age limit for university admissions.

Justice Akpovi’s order 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 instructed that the circular sent by JAMB to universities, which referenced the new age requirement, should be put “in abeyance and on hold” until the full hearing of the originating motion, which is scheduled for a later date. The judge also granted the applicant’s request for accelerated hearing of the case and allowed for certain legal procedures, such as service by courier.

The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute over age-based admission policies. Aikpokpo-Martins expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, noting that it would protect the rights of students who had met the academic criteria but faced exclusion due to their age. The interim order allows students like Angel Aikpokpo-Martins, one of the affected candidates, to continue their studies at Edwin Clark University while the case progresses.

As the legal process continues, all eyes are on the upcoming hearing, which will determine whether the court’s interim measures will become permanent or if JAMB will be allowed to proceed with its age restriction policy. The outcome could set a precedent for how age requirements are applied in Nigeria’s educational system, balancing regulatory standards with access to higher education for young students.