The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has moved to challenge a recent court ruling that nullified its 16-year minimum age requirement for university admissions. The decision to appeal comes after the Delta State High Court in Warri declared the age restriction unconstitutional, allowing younger candidates to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and seek admission into tertiary institutions.
The Legal Battle Over Age Restriction
The case was initially filed by John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri branch. He argued that JAMB’s age restriction violated sections 18(1) and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the right to education and protection from discrimination.
The court ruled in favor of Aikpokpo-Martins, stating that JAMB had no legal backing to enforce an age limit for university admission. The ruling meant that students of any age, as long as they meet the required academic qualifications, should be allowed to register for JAMB and apply for tertiary education.
JAMB’s Response and Appeal
In reaction to the judgment, JAMB has filed an appeal and requested a stay of execution, which, if granted, would temporarily halt the implementation of the ruling while the case is reviewed by a higher court.
JAMB insists that the 16-year age requirement is in place to ensure that students are mentally and emotionally prepared for university life. The board also noted that it already allows exceptions for exceptionally gifted students under 16, provided they meet specific academic criteria.
What Happens Next?
If JAMB’s appeal is successful, the age restriction policy will remain in place, meaning students below 16 will not be eligible to sit for JAMB unless they qualify for special exemptions.
However, if the court upholds its ruling, JAMB will have to allow younger candidates to register for the exam without restrictions, potentially leading to a major policy shift in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Mixed Reactions from Education Stakeholders
The legal battle has sparked diverse reactions among students, parents, and education experts. Some argue that academic ability, not age, should determine admission eligibility, while others believe that younger students may struggle with the challenges of higher education.
As the legal proceedings continue, the education sector awaits further developments that could reshape university admission policies in Nigeria. For now, students under 16 remain uncertain about their eligibility for the upcoming 2025 JAMB UTME, as the appeal process unfolds.
I’m 100% in support of JAMB decisision.
It is not bad to allow children to be matured before getting to the university. But government has left the educational system alone for a long time creating this loophole. No control over private school to enforce regulations. Children should not be punished for it. My son is going to be 16yrs by December 2025. He got 313 in 2024 JAMB and score 69% in Post UTME exam and aggregate of 73.6% overall. He exceeded the 67% cutoff mark for Elec. Elect. Engineering in U.I but JAMB did not give him admission. Now you said he can’t sit for 2025 JAMB. Do you want him to seat at home for 2yrs before getting admission? You want to destroy the destiny of a child because of policy. He’s not the only on in this situation. Government should go back and start Correcting this the situation down from the primary school. They should make sure that private and public schools can not admit a child that is below 10yrs into JSS1. They should manage it and should not destroy the future of their children because of policy. No reasonable nation will do that. The Lawyer wrote to JAMB that they should extend admisable year to 31st Dec. 2024 and not 31st Aug. 2024, but JAMB declined. 3-4 month age difference should not be a problem while Government strenghten the policy. But, I no gree, I no gree dey tear cloth.
JAMB should allow universities determine criteria for their admission, It is unfair to deny a child who has not jumped any class up to ss3 admission after passing. My own son will be 16 Oct.2nd and you want him to wait a whole year doing what?
Jamb should allow universities to decide. My own daughter will be 16 Nov.8 2025. Jamb should stay clear about it. Let Universities decide.
They should allow any age to write the JAMB exam but let university admission be students that will turn 16yrs of age that exam year (Jan-Dec).
Mine will be 16 by October 16. Very very obnoxious policy. Are children born between October to December different?
I’ll be turning 16 by October 13th and yet I have to wait for a whole year. It’s not fair at all. Others who are turning 16 between January and September are allowed to write but those born between October and December are not allowed.
Let him wait and learn a skill. University demands strong mental and physical agility. Under 16 can easily be influenced negatively and bullied on campus
Even me and all my siblings finished sch before that 16 in the 90s and we are doing very well. We were still the best in our classes. The man is just a case of someone whose parents didn’t send to sch on time he wants the whole nation to suffer what he suffered. Very primitive man with his primitive idea. Quota system graduate. His time is just numbered.
This age limitations is just rubbish. Those insisting on 16 years should know that, there are young people between the ages of 14 and 15 years that more mentally, physically and emotionally prepared and stable better than them. I always wonder when are we going to grow beyond our selfishness and foolishness in this country. The children of some those people insisting on 16 years finished university education at the age of 17, 18 and 19 years of age abroad. Admission into any institution (Primary, Secondary or Tertiary) should be based on mental age rather than chronological age.
It is not bad to allow children to be matured before getting to the university. But government has left the educational system alone for a long time creating this loophole. No control over private school to enforce regulations. Children should not be punished for it. My son is going to be 16yrs by December 2025. He got 313 in 2024 JAMB and score 69% in Post UTME exam and aggregate of 73.6% overall. He exceeded the 67% cutoff mark for Elec. Elect. Engineering in U.I but JAMB did not give him admission. Now you said he can’t sit for 2025 JAMB. Do you want him to seat at home for 2yrs before getting admission? You want to destroy the destiny of a child because of policy. He’s not the only on in this situation. Government should go back and start Correcting this the situation down from the primary school. They should make sure that private and public schools can not admit a child that is below 10yrs into JSS1. They should manage it and should not destroy the future of their children because of policy. No reasonable nation will do that. The Lawyer wrote to JAMB that they should extend admisable year to 31st Dec. 2024 and not 31st Aug. 2024, but JAMB declined. 3-4 month age difference should not be a problem while Government strenghten the policy. But, I no gree, I no gree dey tear cloth.
Government supposed to make plan for all the students that are deprived for entering university because of age issues, than allow them wasting there precious time at home without doing anything for good period of years
Age 15 years is not bad for a child to write for Jamb please allow them
We don’t know the years that they will spent in the school with this Nigeria education system it is well
It’s actually an abuse of privilege for JAMB to have determined to restrict students below the age of 16. There are students that are more than 20 years old that’s mentally unstable academically and otherwise.
Useless law
My daughter will be 16 by Oct 10, she is the best in her class ( phy, Maths, TD, Bio, Chem) and even teaching others that are older. I have seen many undergraduate that are over 20 yrs at the time of admission, but questions how did they get admitted bcos they have nothing in their head. That’s why people falsify their child’s age with affidavit bcos that’s what the system wants. JAMB Pls review that your decision and whoever that is qualified go.
So what happens to those that wil be 16 by October 9 2025
Many lives will be negatively affected by this jamb decision. For God’s sake, what is their problem with age? What will they be doing at home for another one year? Useless decision. We are yet to learn from the developed world. It’s a pity
It is not bad to allow children to be matured before getting to the university. But government has left the educational system alone for a long time creating this loophole. No control over private school to enforce regulations. Children should not be punished for it. My son is going to be 16yrs by December 2025. He got 313 in 2024 JAMB and score 69% in Post UTME exam and aggregate of 73.6% overall. He exceeded the 67% cutoff mark for Elec. Elect. Engineering in U.I but JAMB did not give him admission. Now you said he can’t sit for 2025 JAMB. Do you want him to seat at home for 2yrs before getting admission? You want to destroy the destiny of a child because of policy. He’s not the only on in this situation. Government should go back and start Correcting this the situation down from the primary school. They should make sure that private and public schools can not admit a child that is below 10yrs into JSS1. They should manage it and should not destroy the future of their children because of policy. No reasonable nation will do that. The Lawyer wrote to JAMB that they should extend admisable year to 31st Dec. 2024 and not 31st Aug. 2024, but JAMB declined. 3-4 month age difference should not be a problem while Government strenghten the policy. But, I no gree, I no gree dey tear cloth.
Dont mind them my brother same thing with my son @ ABU even when the school passed him based on his high scores @ both Jamb and post-ume still Jamb portal did not allowed him to gain admission into the University for how long are we going to be killing ourself in this country ? APC policy or just a policy from a man that has no feelings for the masses ?>
I will be turning 16 by 13th October,2025 yet those who are also turning 16 between January and September are allowed to write JAMB, it’s not fair to those born between October and December at all.
Please review and reconsider your decision. A lot of people are saying we should use the one year to learn a skill but during that time not everyone will be able to focus on their books like before,so why not get into the university where we can get advanced knowledge than sit at home and waste away. A lot of us have dreams we will like to fulfill and with the educational system in Nigeria,who knows when there will be a strike or anything of such which will delay students in the university making them spend extra years in the university. JOINT ADMISSION MATRICULATION BOARD, Please and please reconsider your decision.
Honestly its unfair to implement this kind of policy as most of these people their children school in abroad so what is left for the common man ? it should be any kids from Jan – Dec that will clock 16 then they should be allow to gain admission hence they passed their JAMB result not limiting to only Jan – August 2025
Pls review this policy and abide by the court order Mr Jamb Registrar