The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an order preventing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from enforcing its recent policy, which sets a minimum age of 16 years for university admissions in Nigeria. This order will remain in effect until the court hears and decides on the motion filed against the board.
On October 16, JAMB announced that only candidates who turn 16 by August 2025 would be eligible for admission to tertiary institutions. This directive followed a new policy introduced by the Ministry of Education, which set 18 years as the minimum age for university admission. However, JAMB made an exception for students applying for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Unhappy with this directive, John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Warri branch, took legal action against JAMB. Acting on behalf of candidates born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who passed the JAMB exams in 2024, Aikpokpo-Martins filed a lawsuit, marked W/311/FHR/2021, naming JAMB and Edwin Clark University as the 1st and 2nd respondents, respectively.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Anthony Akpovi granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, as confirmed by a Certified True Copy (CTC) obtained by our correspondent. The applicant requested that the court restrain the respondents from implementing the directives in JAMB’s circular dated October 16, 2024, titled “Admission of Candidates with Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years,” signed by Mohammed A. Babaji, pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
Additionally, the applicant sought an interim injunction to prevent the respondents from revoking Angel Aikpokpo Martins’ admission or restricting her access to the educational facilities at the 2nd respondent institution until the originating motion is heard and determined.
In his ruling, Justice Akpovi stated, “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted to preserve and protect the rights of every Nigerian child born between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who passed the JAMB exams in 2024, allowing them to remain duly admitted by the 1st respondent, applicable to all Nigerian universities, including the 2nd respondent. Consequently, the 1st respondent’s circular dated October 16, 2024, Ref: JAMB/ADMS/139/V.111, is put on hold, maintaining the status quo prior to this circular, pending the hearing of the originating motion dated October 24, 2024.”
Furthermore, Justice Akpovi granted Reliefs 3(a) and (b) for substituted service by courier and Relief 4 for an accelerated hearing.
 from enforcing its recent policy, which sets a minimum age of 16 years for university admissions in Nigeria. This order will remain in effect until the court hears and decides on the motion filed against the board.){kind=link}