The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released updated information on the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration process, outlining timelines, monitoring measures, and eligibility requirements for candidates across Nigeria.
The announcement was made in Lagos on Saturday during a meeting with Commissioners for Education ahead of the UTME and Direct Entry exercises. The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated that the sale of UTME application documents, also known as ePINs, will commence prior to the official registration window.
He explained, “The sale of UTME application documents will start before the actual registration period, which runs from January 26 to February 28 at all approved CBT centres. The sale of ePINs begins earlier, from January 19.”
Prof. Oloyede further disclosed that candidates must select the mock examination option by February 16. The sale of Direct Entry application documents and ePINs will start on March 2 and close on April 25.
He also highlighted that UTME results for underage candidates will only be released after a complete evaluation process, to ensure proper assessment for age waiver applications.
Regarding monitoring of the registration exercise, Oloyede said all CBT centres will be tracked live from JAMB headquarters. He warned, “Any centre whose activities cannot be monitored from the headquarters will not receive payment, and the registrations conducted there may be invalidated.”
The registrar noted that 924 centres have been provisionally listed after initial screening and will undergo a final test before full accreditation.
He clarified that candidates are not required to pay any service charges to CBT centres and emphasized that only fees approved by the board are valid.
On the issue of examination locations, Oloyede stated that candidates cannot be posted to towns outside those selected during registration and advised candidates to register early to secure their preferred locations. “Choosing a group of towns means candidates may be assigned to any town within that group,” he added.
Addressing compliance, he warned candidates to declare any previous registration or admission records with the board, noting that cases of malpractice were recorded in the last UTME. He stressed that running more than one undergraduate programme simultaneously is a criminal offence. “Failure to disclose prior admissions is an offence that will attract sanctions,” he said.
On age requirements, Oloyede confirmed that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for UTME and admission. Underage candidates will undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver and must score at least 80% in UTME/A’Level, PUTME, SSCE, and the exceptional candidate assessment.
