JAMB’s Minimum Admission Age Unconstitutional, Court Rules
The Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri, has declared the 16-year minimum admission age for universities, set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice Anthony O. Akpovi on February 27, 2025, favored the claimant, John Aikpokpo-Martins, in a case against JAMB, except for his request for damages.
Aikpokpo-Martins, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri, filed the suit challenging the age restriction, arguing that it violated constitutional rights to equal educational opportunities and freedom from discrimination. The court ruled in his favor, stating that Section 18(1) combined with Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution made the age restriction unenforceable.
As a result of the judgment, candidates of any age can now purchase JAMB forms, and those who meet the admission cut-off for their course and university are eligible for admission.
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