Delta State High Court Halts JAMB’s Age Policy for University Admissions
Delta State, Nigeria – A significant legal development emerged from the Delta State High Court in Warri, where a judge has issued a directive preventing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from enforcing its controversial new policy that mandates a minimum age of 16 years for university admissions in Nigeria. This restraining order will remain in effect until the court hears and decides on the motion against JAMB.
On October 16, JAMB had announced that only candidates who would reach the age of 16 by August 2025 would be eligible for admission into tertiary institutions. This announcement followed new regulations introduced by the Ministry of Education, which established 18 years as the minimum age for university enrollment. However, JAMB indicated that this directive would not apply to students seeking admission for the 2024/2025 academic year.
John Aikpokpo-Martins, former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association in Warri, initiated legal action against JAMB in response to the new directives. He filed a suit on behalf of all candidates born between September 1 and December 31, 2009, who successfully passed their JAMB examinations in 2024. The suit, designated W/311/FHR/2021, lists JAMB as the first respondent and Edwin Clark University as the second respondent.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the requests made by Aikpokpo-Martins, as confirmed by a Certified True Copy (CTC) obtained by Sunday PUNCH. The applicant had sought judicial orders to prevent the respondents from acting upon the circular issued by JAMB on October 16, which established the 16-year minimum age for admission. Additionally, the court was asked to issue an interim injunction to ensure that Angel Aikpokpo Martins, the applicant’s daughter, would not have her admission revoked or her educational rights impeded by the university.
Justice Olotu, in his ruling, stated, “The requests for reliefs 1 and 2 are approved to uphold the rights and protections of Nigerian children born from September 1 to December 31, 2009, who have written and passed their JAMB exams in 2024. This ensures their admission remains valid at all Nigerian universities, including the second respondent.” The judge further declared that JAMB’s circular to university vice chancellors, dated October 16, would be suspended, thereby maintaining the status of the admissions that were in place before this circular, pending further hearing of the motion filed on October 24. The court also granted reliefs for substituted service and expedited hearing of the case.
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