In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and signed by Adeniran Samuel and Omotayo Omokayode, the group—Coalition of Concerned Parents, Students, and Stakeholders—appealed for an urgent waiver for candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and passed, regardless of age.
The parents urged the minister to direct JAMB to “remove the portal restrictions preventing these candidates from processing admission,” arguing that the policy undermines the academic futures of young Nigerians.
Parents Decry “Unfair” Policy
The coalition described the age rule as discriminatory and inconsistent with Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination on grounds such as circumstances of birth.
“The JAMB policy amounts to discrimination based on the circumstance of birth—being born a few months later—by excluding brilliant students from access to higher education while admitting older, less qualified peers,” the statement read.
They recalled that a Delta State High Court had previously nullified JAMB’s attempt to enforce underage restrictions, and insisted that merit, not age, should be the primary criterion for admission.
The parents further argued that the policy was particularly harsh given the low success rate in the 2025 UTME, where only about 7 percent of candidates scored 250 or above. They stressed that several high-performing students were now being sidelined simply for being under 16, while peers with lower scores still qualified for admission.
Wider Opposition Gathers Momentum
The appeal from Ekiti follows recent protests in Lagos by another pressure group, the Movement Against JAMB Injustice, which described the age limit as unconstitutional and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
The policy, introduced in 2025, stipulates that candidates must have turned 16 by August of the admission year to qualify for entry into universities and other tertiary institutions. JAMB has defended the rule as aligning Nigeria with international education standards, but it continues to face resistance from parents and guardians across the country.
Call for Phased Implementation
The Ekiti coalition urged government to consider phased implementation of any age policy, starting at the point of entry into primary or junior secondary school rather than at the terminal stage of secondary education.
“These children are not asking for undue advantage; they are simply asking not to be punished for excelling early. Denying them admission today dims their hope, weakens their morale, and unfairly penalises their brilliance,” the group said.
They appealed to the minister to intervene in what they described as a matter of fairness and constitutional rights, stressing that the outcome would shape the future of Nigeria’s brightest minds.