Chinaemere Opara has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Universities Commission (NUC) in response to the new admission policy.
The 15-year-old Senior Secondary School (SSS) student, represented by his guardian and father, Mr. Maxwell Opara, submitted the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the motion, labeled FHC/ABJ/CS/1512/2024 and dated September 30, was filed by Wayne Elijah on October 14. Opara listed the ministry, JAMB, and NUC as the first to third respondents, respectively.
In his application, Opara is seeking a declaration that the policy imposing a minimum age for university admission is discriminatory and unconstitutional. He argues that it violates his right to freedom of expression as protected by Sections 42 of the 1999 Constitution and various articles of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
Opara also contends that his rights to peaceful assembly and association are infringed by this policy, which restricts his ability to choose when to take the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams, impacting his equal access to public services.
He is requesting a perpetual injunction against the respondents to prevent any interference with his rights and is asking for the policy to be overturned.
In an affidavit, Maxwell Opara states that his son is directly affected by the minimum age policy. He cites a public statement from the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, indicating that from 2025, candidates under 16 would be barred from university admission, leading Chinaemere to believe his right to education is being compromised.
Maxwell asserts that Chinaemere plans to enter SS 3 in the 2024/2025 academic session and hopes to sit for his WAEC, NECO, and JAMB exams in 2025, aiming for university admission in the 2025/2026 academic year.
He emphasizes that there is no specific age requirement for university admission in Nigeria, noting that candidates must complete secondary education and meet certain academic qualifications. Maxwell expresses confidence in his son’s potential for academic success, particularly in pursuing a degree in Medicine and Surgery, which requires eight years of study.
As of now, the case has not yet been assigned to a judge. The new admission policy has sparked significant discussion among education stakeholders, prompting the minister to revise the minimum admission age to 16.
