A 15-year-old student, Chinaemere Opara, has taken legal action against the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Universities Commission (NUC) over a government rule that restricts university admissions to students who are at least 18 years old.
Chinaemere, who is currently in Senior Secondary School 2, filed the lawsuit with the help of his father, Mr. Maxwell Opara, who is also a lawyer. The case was brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 14.
The teenager believes the age limit is unfair and against his rights. In the court papers, he argues that the policy discriminates against younger students and violates his constitutional rights, including his freedom of expression. He also claims that it denies him equal access to public services, such as education.
Through his lawyer, Chinaemere is asking the court to declare the age limit policy unconstitutional and to stop the Ministry of Education, JAMB, and the NUC from enforcing it. He wants the court to allow him, and other students like him, to apply to university regardless of age, as long as they meet the academic requirements.
The case also highlights Chinaemere’s personal situation. He is planning to write his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams in 2025 and hopes to gain admission to study Medicine and Surgery in the 2025/2026 academic year. According to his father, Chinaemere is fully prepared to meet the academic qualifications required for university admission.
Chinaemere’s father also pointed out that, while there are academic criteria for university admissions in Nigeria, there is no law that sets a specific age limit for entry.
The Ministry of Education has however, statated that they are not aware of the lawsuit. The Ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, said discussions about the minimum age policy are ongoing.
She also explained that the policy is not yet finalised and meetings are being held to address concerns raised by the public.
Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, previously explained that the age limit only applies to university admissions and not to the exams themselves. However, he said that exceptions could be made for exceptionally gifted students.
The case is still pending, and it has not yet been assigned to a judge.