Parents Urge FG to Scrap JAMB Age Limit, Say Policy Punishes Brilliant Students

A coalition of concerned parents and stakeholders in Ekiti State has called on the Federal Government to abolish the age restriction policy imposed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for tertiary admissions.

In a letter to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and signed by Adeniran Samuel and Omotayo Omokayode, the group appealed for an immediate waiver for all qualified candidates who passed the 2025 JAMB examination, regardless of age. They also urged the government to instruct JAMB to lift portal restrictions that prevent younger candidates from processing their admission.

JAMB currently enforces a policy allowing only candidates who turn 16 by August 2025 to gain admission into tertiary institutions. Parents argue that this rule unfairly disqualifies younger, high-performing students some of whom scored over 70% while admitting older candidates with lower scores.

The group described the age policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional, referencing Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on circumstances of birth. They also cited a previous Delta State High Court ruling that declared a similar JAMB directive null and void.

Noting that only about 7% of candidates scored above 250 in the 2025 JAMB exam, the parents warned that enforcing the age limit could demoralize Nigeria’s brightest students and undermine merit-based education.

They recommended that any age policy be implemented gradually, starting from basic education levels, rather than at the point of university admission. “These children are not seeking favoritism,” the letter stated. “They only ask not to be penalized for academic excellence achieved at a young age.”

The group called on the minister to use his “principled and fatherly voice” to restore fairness and protect the future of Nigeria’s young talents.