15-Year-Old Over University Age Limit

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 new admission policy.

The policy, introduced by these institutions, sets a minimum age requirement for university admission, which Opara believes is discriminatory.

Opara, who is a Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 student, filed the case through his father and legal guardian, Mr. Maxwell Opara, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The lawsuit, filed on October 14, seeks to challenge the rule that requires candidates to be at least 16 years old to gain admission into Nigerian universities.

In his petition, Opara argued that the policy violates his right to education and freedom from discrimination based on age, as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. He is seeking a court declaration that this policy is unconstitutional and discriminatory. He also requested an injunction to stop the authorities from enforcing the policy and an order to set it aside.

Maxwell Opara, in his affidavit, explained that his son, Chinaemere, is directly affected by the policy. He mentioned that the policy has disrupted his son’s plans to complete his secondary education and take the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams in 2025. He added, “My son believes that his right to education has been or is likely to be violated.”

According to Maxwell, there is no federal or state law in Nigeria that makes age a barrier for university admission. He believes his son will perform well in the required exams and hopes to study Medicine and Surgery, a course that takes eight years, including a one-year internship and youth service.

The case has yet to be assigned to a judge. The legal action follows a statement by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, in July, where he announced that from 2025, students under 18 would not be allowed to take the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). However, after widespread debate, the minimum age for university admission was set at 16.

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