Master Chinaemere Opara, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School student, has initiated a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Education, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Universities Commission (NUC). The suit challenges the government’s policy that restricts university admissions to applicants aged 18 and above.

Opara, represented by his father, Mr. Maxwell Opara, filed the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The lawsuit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1512/2024, was initiated on September 30 and submitted on October 14 by legal counsel Wayne Elijah.

He is seeking six reliefs, including a declaration that the age restriction policy is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Opara argues that the policy violates his rights to freedom of expression as outlined in Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

In addition, he contends that the policy infringes on his rights to peaceful assembly, association, and equal access to public services, particularly in relation to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams. Opara’s suit seeks a permanent injunction against any attempts by the respondents to interfere with his rights, as well as a request to nullify the age limit policy.

In his affidavit, Maxwell Opara emphasized that his son, an SS2 student, is adversely affected by the policy, which obstructs his academic advancement. He noted that there is no legal provision in Nigeria establishing an age limit for university admission. Chinaemere plans to sit for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB exams in 2025, with hopes of securing university admission for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The age restriction policy, introduced by Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman in July, initially set the minimum age for university admission at 18, igniting public debate. In response to backlash, the ministry revised the age limit to 16 years for the current admission cycle. However, Opara’s lawsuit addresses the broader implications of this policy.

As of this report, the Ministry of Education has not formally responded, and officials from JAMB and NUC were unavailable for comment. The case has not yet been assigned to a judge.