JAMB Age Limit Policy Faces Suspension, Parents Protest

A group known as the Movement Against JAMB Injustice, made up of concerned parents, has labeled the age limit policy enforced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria as unconstitutional and demands that it be abolished immediately.

The group has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the age limit policy, which they see as discriminatory, and to permit candidates who turn 16 before the conclusion of the 2025/2026 academic year to apply for admission to any Nigerian institution.

Leading a protest march to JAMB’s Lagos office yesterday, despite heavy rainfall, Mr. Olusegun Steven also urged JAMB and the Ministry of Education to push back the deadline to December to ensure equity and fairness.

The demonstrators, holding placards, criticized JAMB’s policy of imposing a cutoff mark of 320 for students under 16 years old by September 30th, calling it “arbitrary, unjust, and a violation of children’s educational rights.”

The group expressed their astonishment and disappointment that, despite a court ruling against age discrimination, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, continue to implement this policy.

They stated, “This policy is not only unjust but also discriminatory, and we will not remain passive while our children’s rights are being infringed.”

Steven pointed out the situation of a child who achieved a score of 315 and wishes to pursue architecture at a private university but was barred from uploading her results due to her age.

“Why should JAMB arbitrarily impose a cutoff mark for students under 16 years by September 30th instead of December?”

“Therefore, we are gathered today at the JAMB office in Ikoyi, Lagos, for a peaceful protest, and we will persist until Prof. Oloyede suspends this unjust and discriminatory age limit policy.”

Prof. Atiba Samuel, a member of the movement from Ekiti, remarked that while the group does not oppose the 16-year age limit for admission, it should not be enforced at the intermediate level.