National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Chuks Peter, DELTA
A Delta State High Court sitting in Warri has issued a temporary injunction against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), suspending its 16-year minimum age policy for university admissions in Nigeria.
The order came on Saturday following a motion filed by John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, who represented students affected by the age restriction.
The ruling pauses JAMB’s enforcement of the age requirement until the case is fully heard.
“The age requirement is unjust for candidates who have fulfilled all other criteria,” Aikpokpo-Martins stated, referencing students who passed their exams yet faced hurdles due to their age. Among the affected students is his daughter, Angel Aikpokpo-Martins, born between September and December 2009.
Presiding over the case, Justice Anthony Akpovi ordered JAMB to hold off on the policy and maintain the admission list created prior to the recent changes. “This ruling seeks to protect the rights of all qualified candidates impacted by JAMB’s recent age policy, pending the court’s final decision,” Justice Akpovi noted.
The case brings to light the ongoing debate surrounding age requirements in Nigeria’s tertiary education, with calls for policies that recognize the unique academic journeys of each student.
