15-Year-Old Student Sues Education Ministry, JAMB, NUC Over New Admission Policy

A 15-year-old Senior Secondary School 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 the introduction of a new admission policy. Opara filed the lawsuit through his guardian and father, Mr. Maxwell Opara, a lawyer, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1512/2024, was filed on October 14 and dated September 30. In the originating motion, Opara listed the Ministry of Education, JAMB, and NUC as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents, respectively. The student is challenging the minimum age requirement for admission into universities in Nigeria, which he described as discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Opara, currently in Senior Secondary School 2, is seeking six reliefs from the court, including a declaration that the age restriction policy violates his right to freedom of expression. He argued that the policy contravenes Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and various articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

The applicant urged the court to recognize his right to peaceful assembly and association, stating that the admission policy unlawfully limits these rights. He further argued that the age restriction infringes on his right to equal access to public services, including enrolling for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams.

Opara's lawsuit seeks a perpetual injunction preventing the respondents from interfering with his rights and calls for the court to set aside the new admission policy. The case is expected to spark a significant debate on age-related admission requirements in Nigerian universities.