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Tag: Jamb

  • JAMB Opens Access to Monday UTME Results

    JAMB Opens Access to Monday UTME Results

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Monday, April 20. The announcement was made in a statement on Tuesday by the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.

    According to the statement, candidates can now access their results through JAMB’s standard result-checking platforms. This includes sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 via SMS using the phone number used during registration.

    JAMB noted that the release of results continues in batches corresponding to each examination day since the 2026 UTME began on Thursday, April 16. The board explained that this approach ensures orderly processing of the large volume of candidates participating in the computer-based tests nationwide.

    So far, results have been released for Thursday candidates as well as a combined batch for Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18. However, the Friday-Saturday release experienced delays, which JAMB attributed to the unavailability of its registrar due to an official assignment.

    With the latest Monday release, candidates are encouraged to continue checking their results through official channels as the board maintains its daily publication schedule for the ongoing examination cycle.

  • Peter Obi Urges JAMB to Resolve UTME Registration Challenges to Protect Students

    Peter Obi Urges JAMB to Resolve UTME Registration Challenges to Protect Students

    ABUJA — Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to urgently resolve the difficulties facing candidates registering for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Obi raised the concern after witnessing large crowds and confusion at JAMB’s office in Amawbia, Anambra State, and noting similar reports from other parts of the country. The situation is reportedly linked to the proscription of several computer-based test centres over alleged infractions.

    While acknowledging that JAMB may have valid reasons to sanction erring centres, Obi urged the board to adopt a more balanced and humane approach. He suggested that centres under investigation could operate limited services under strict supervision, and that previously approved centres be temporarily reactivated to ease pressure on state offices.

    “With the registration deadline approaching, many candidates — some traveling long distances and spending nights away from home — risk missing the examination through no fault of their own,” Obi said. “Students cannot be made to suffer the failings of a system to which we have all, in one way or another, contributed. Swift and compassionate intervention should be made to ensure that no young person’s academic future is jeopardised by avoidable administrative bottlenecks.”

  • JAMB Clarifies Hijab Policy After ABUAD Registration Video

    JAMB Clarifies Hijab Policy After ABUAD Registration Video

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during registration, following concerns raised in a viral video alleging discrimination at Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).

    In the video shared on social media, a man claimed his sister was asked to remove her hijab before being photographed at a JAMB centre and was later asked to sign an undertaking for wearing it.

    Responding via its verified account, JAMB stated that it has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab.

    The board explained that the issue at ABUAD related to a standard biometric requirement that both ears must be visible during photo capture — a guideline it described as a global practice for facial recognition purposes, similar to passport and visa applications.

    According to JAMB, the requirement is purely technical and does not mandate removal of the hijab. Instead, candidates are only required to ensure their ears are visible during the biometric photograph.

    The board said the candidate in question was asked to state in writing that she chose not to comply with the ear-visibility guideline so that proper records would reflect the circumstances. It added that she was eventually captured successfully.

    Reiterating its position, JAMB urged the public to avoid spreading misleading information and to seek clarification when necessary, affirming its commitment to respecting the rights and beliefs of all candidates.

    JAMB also noted that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began on January 26, 2026, and will run until February 28, 2026. Registrar Is-haq Oloyede said e-PIN vending started on January 19 and will close on February 26, 2026.

    For Direct Entry candidates, sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will begin on March 2 and end on April 25, 2026, with registration conducted exclusively at JAMB zonal and state offices nationwide.

  • JAMB Rules Out Deadline Extension for 2026 UTME Registration

    JAMB Rules Out Deadline Extension for 2026 UTME Registration

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will not extend the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), urging candidates to complete their enrolment before February 26 or forfeit the opportunity to sit for the examination.

    In a statement issued Tuesday, the Board said the sale of e-PINs — a mandatory requirement for registration — will close at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

    Candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will have until Saturday, February 28, 2026, to complete their registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

    As of February 17, JAMB disclosed that more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered across the country. However, it expressed concern that registration centres are operating at only about 30 per cent of their daily capacity.

    The Board noted that it has the infrastructure to register up to 100,000 candidates per day, a figure it said far exceeds the current turnout.

    “The Board wishes to clearly state that there will be no extension of the registration deadline,” the statement emphasised.

    JAMB explained that its examination timetable forms part of a nationally coordinated schedule agreed upon by all examination bodies in Nigeria, leaving no room for adjustments.

    “The UTME registration window was carefully structured to ensure a seamless transition to other public examination exercises scheduled to follow. Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” it said.

    The examination body warned that candidates who delay registration until the final days risk facing avoidable challenges and stressed that it would not entertain appeals after the deadline.

    Describing the notice as a proactive measure, JAMB urged prospective candidates to obtain their e-PINs immediately and proceed to accredited centres to complete the process.

    The 2026 UTME is expected to attract millions of applicants seeking admission into tertiary institutions nationwide, making adherence to the registration timeline critical for aspirants.

  • Remita Boosts Access to JAMB Services with Digital Upgrade”

    Remita Boosts Access to JAMB Services with Digital Upgrade”

    Photocredit:PunchNewspaper

    Remita, a leading Nigerian fintech company, has announced improvements to its platform to ease access to JAMB services for students registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry programmes. The upgrades aim to streamline the digital registration process, allowing candidates and their families to secure ePINs efficiently and navigate administrative requirements with minimal friction.

    The platform’s enhancements include a more intuitive website and mobile app, which enable parents and students to make direct payments for JAMB services, track transactions in real time, obtain official receipts, and earn rewards for each payment. These features reduce reliance on third-party intermediaries and improve transparency in the registration process.

    Remita is also extending support to schools and training institutions, allowing trusted partners within the education ecosystem to process ePINs seamlessly. This initiative is intended to reduce operational challenges for institutions while protecting candidates from exploitation and delays.

    Abayomi Oniku, Remita’s Executive Director of Business Development, highlighted that the company is committed to ensuring education remains an accessible investment for Nigeria’s future. Alisa Chinedu, Head of Digital Assets and Partnerships, added that AI-assisted tools and strategic partnerships are making the JAMB registration process more human-centered and supportive for candidates.

    Through these measures, Remita reinforces its role as a national payments and digital infrastructure provider, connecting students, institutions, and families while promoting financial inclusion, digital access, and operational efficiency in Nigeria’s higher education system.

  • Over 1,500 UTME Candidates Face High Costs After Taraba CBT Centre Delisted

    Over 1,500 UTME Candidates Face High Costs After Taraba CBT Centre Delisted

    Over 1,500 candidates in Sardauna Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State are facing significant financial strain ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) delisted the area’s only Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre.

    The affected facility, located at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) in Gembu, had served as the sole centre for the Mambilla Plateau, accommodating all 2025 UTME candidates in the region.

    Under JAMB’s 2026 guidelines, towns with fewer than three accredited CBT centres are no longer approved for UTME registration or examinations. The delisting has forced candidates from Sardauna LGA to travel to neighbouring local governments, including Jalingo, Zing, and Bali, for both registration and the exam itself.

    Education stakeholders warn that students may now spend between ₦130,000 and ₦220,000 to cover transportation, accommodation, feeding, registration, and mock exam fees. Candidates from Ndum–Yaji and Bang communities are expected to spend nearly ₦100,000, while those from Kan-Iyaka may spend over ₦108,000. Even residents of Gembu, the LGA headquarters, face registration costs exceeding ₦60,000.

    Transport costs alone for candidates from Bang and Kan-Iyaka communities could range from ₦35,000 to ₦50,000 per trip due to long distances and poor road networks. Accommodation in Jalingo or Zing adds additional expense, which may double as candidates return for the main UTME.

    A Gembu school principal described the development as a setback to Taraba State’s free education policy, stating, “Education may be free, but access has now become expensive. This policy contradicts the goal of equal opportunity.”

    Parents, guardians, and community leaders have criticized the policy as urban-biased, arguing it disproportionately affects rural students and makes access to university education a luxury. JD Yaji, a leading stakeholder, said, “Sardauna is not a small community. It is a constitutionally recognised local government. Removing its only CBT centre is unfair and discriminatory.”

    Hebrews Wubon echoed the concern, noting that candidates from Sardauna are now at a disadvantage compared to students in urban areas with multiple CBT centres, despite the state’s free education policy.

    The stakeholders have appealed to the Taraba State government, education authorities, and JAMB to urgently review the policy and restore a CBT centre in Sardauna LGA to reduce the financial burden on students and their families.

  • 16-Year-Old Student Serves As Ogun State One-Day Education Commissioner

    16-Year-Old Student Serves As Ogun State One-Day Education Commissioner

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu in group photograph with 16-year-old one-day Comissioner and SS3 student of African Grammar School, Ita Iyalode, Abeokuta, Alaka Oluwagbemisoke alongside other students of the school and officials of the ministry. Credit: Taiwo Bankole:

    A 16-year-old final-year student of African Grammar School, Ita Iyalode, Abeokuta, Oluwagbemisoke Alaka, served as the One-Day Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology in Ogun State on Thursday.

    Alaka resumed duty at the Ministry within the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, at 9:45 a.m., where she was received by the substantive Commissioner, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, and senior ministry officials.

    She earned the role after emerging as the overall winner of an essay competition organised by the Adebiyi Habib Foundation for selected secondary schools in the state.

    Before handing over the position, Commissioner Arigbabu said the initiative was designed to promote and reward hard work and excellence among students. “Alaka has done so well for herself and the state, and we are proud of her achievements. We hope other learners will find this occasion motivating enough to pursue excellence in their studies,” he said.

    Alaka, amid applause, took over the Commissioner’s seat, signed documents, and toured various departments within the ministry.

    During the event, she urged the government to prioritise investment in ICT infrastructure in public schools, noting the shift of national examinations such as JAMB and some WAEC components to computer-based testing. She highlighted that only a limited number of public schools currently have functional CBT centres.

    She also appealed for improved teachers’ welfare, stressing that the quality and motivation of teachers determine the success of any education system. While commending recent reforms in Ogun State’s education sector, particularly in infrastructure, she urged further action to enhance learning outcomes.

    Alaka described the experience as life-changing, motivating her to continue excelling academically and inspiring other students across the state.

    Habib Adebiyi, founder of the Adebiyi Habib Foundation, said Alaka was selected from over 300 participants. He explained that appointing a One-Day Commissioner helps build leadership capacity and prepare students for future roles, noting that the foundation’s programmes have benefited over 50,000 students in the last three years.

    The initiative follows similar programmes, such as in Lagos State, where Abdulazeez Abdulrahmon, winner of the 20th Spelling Bee Competition in October 2024, served as One-Day Governor, illustrating the ongoing commitment of Nigerian states to nurturing future leaders.

  • House Of Reps: Ask WAEC, Education Ministry To Halt 2026 CBT Exams

    House Of Reps: Ask WAEC, Education Ministry To Halt 2026 CBT Exams

    The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 school examinations.

    Lawmakers raised concerns that most secondary schools, particularly in rural areas, lack the necessary infrastructure, electricity supply, and trained personnel to support a full transition to computer-based exams.

    WAEC had earlier announced its intention to conduct the 2026 May/June examinations using computers, after a partial rollout for private candidates in 2024. However, the House urged a gradual implementation, recommending that the policy be deferred until at least 2030.

    The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Kelechi Wogu, titled “Need for Intervention to Avert the Pending Massive Failure of Candidates Intending to Write the 2026 WAEC Examination Using Computer-Based Testing (CBT), Capable of Causing Depression and Deaths of Students.”

    Leading the debate, Wogu warned that a hasty rollout could lead to widespread failure and distress among students. He noted that most schools lack functional computer labs, internet access, and qualified computer teachers, especially in rural areas where over 70 percent of candidates are based.

    He recalled that WAEC’s 2025 result portal temporarily crashed due to technical issues, causing anxiety among candidates, and cautioned that similar disruptions could occur if the examination is digitised without adequate preparation.

    “Computer-based examinations require fully equipped halls, stable internet, and constant electricity—either from the grid or standby generators,” Wogu said, adding that about 25,500 schools are expected to participate in the 2026 exams.

    The lawmaker also noted that, unlike JAMB, WAEC candidates take up to nine subjects, including practicals and theory papers, making a swift switch to CBT logistically challenging.

    The House recommended that federal and state governments make provisions in their 2026–2029 budgets for computer infrastructure, recruitment of ICT teachers, and assessment of schools’ readiness ahead of a phased rollout in 2030.

    The motion was unanimously adopted, with the House directing its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour to engage relevant stakeholders and report back within four weeks.

    Meanwhile, WAEC has continued preparations for the transition, with officials conducting sensitisation campaigns under the theme “CB-WASSCE: New Way, Same Destination,” maintaining that the 2024 pilot phase recorded significant progress.

  • JAMB Walks Out of National Assembly Hearing, Lawmakers Demand Registrar’s Presence

    JAMB Walks Out of National Assembly Hearing, Lawmakers Demand Registrar’s Presence

    A tense confrontation occurred at the National Assembly on Wednesday when officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out of a House of Representatives Committee session on Basic Education and Examination Bodies.

    The Committee, chaired by Oboku Oforji of Bayelsa State, had summoned JAMB to account for its 2023–2024 budget performance, internally generated revenue remittances, and other financial operations, including bank statements and evidence of transfers to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    Despite three formal invitations sent on October 6, 17, and 23, 2025, the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, did not appear in person. Instead, he sent Director Mufutau Bello as his representative, escalating tensions when Bello demanded that journalists leave the session, citing the sensitive nature of the documents. Lawmakers refused, insisting the hearing was public and within the Committee’s authority.

    Agitated by the Committee’s stance, Bello ordered his team to exit the room, prompting lawmakers to attempt detaining the officials. By the time the Sergeant-at-Arms arrived, the JAMB delegation had already left.

    Describing the walkout as “unacceptable and disrespectful,” Oforji stressed that the Committee’s role is to ensure transparency and accountability, not to embarrass any agency. “We sent three formal requests to the Registrar. Instead of complying, he sent a representative who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is unfortunate and cannot be tolerated,” he said.

    The Committee has now given Prof. Oloyede until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to appear in person with his management team and provide all requested documents. Failure to comply may trigger enforcement actions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Several lawmakers condemned JAMB’s actions as a contemptuous disregard for parliamentary oversight. Abiante said the incident revealed a troubling lack of accountability and highlighted concerns about public fund management, while Rodney Ambaiowei criticized attempts to exclude the press, emphasizing that transparency is mandatory for public resources.

    Rivers lawmaker Marie Ebikake expressed surprise at the Registrar’s absence and the unclear leadership of the delegation, insisting that Prof. Oloyede must attend the next hearing to clarify JAMB’s management of public funds.

    The session was adjourned until next Tuesday, with lawmakers warning that further defiance by JAMB could invite strict parliamentary sanctions.

    This incident underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria where public agencies sometimes ignore legislative summons, undermining the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight role and accountability mechanisms.

  • FG Denies Scrapping UTME, Affirms JAMB’s Role in Admissions

    FG Denies Scrapping UTME, Affirms JAMB’s Role in Admissions

    The Federal Government has dismissed claims that it has abolished the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), reaffirming that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remains the sole legally recognised body for admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, described the reports circulating on social media as false and misleading. She clarified that neither the ministry nor any of its agencies issued or approved such an announcement.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, JAMB remains the statutory and legally empowered body responsible for conducting entrance examinations and coordinating admissions into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” the statement read.

    The ministry maintained that all established admission procedures through JAMB remain in force, urging the public to disregard any information suggesting otherwise.

    Folasade further noted that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had reiterated the Federal Government’s continued collaboration with JAMB and other education agencies to uphold transparency, fairness, and merit in the admission process.

    According to her, the minister emphasised that safeguarding the integrity of tertiary education admissions remains a top priority for the current administration. “The Federal Government is committed to maintaining the credibility of the process and ensuring that every qualified candidate has a fair chance,” she quoted Alausa as saying.

    The clarification follows online rumours sparked by the government’s recent decision to review admission requirements, allowing candidates without a credit pass in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to apply for programmes in the Faculty of Arts.

    The ministry explained that the policy adjustment aims to widen access to higher education and align Nigeria’s admission system with international best practices.

    The Federal Ministry of Education also reiterated the clarification via its verified X (formerly Twitter) account, confirming that the UTME remains an integral part of the country’s tertiary admission process.