The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will not extend the registration deadline for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), citing the efficiency of the ongoing process.
With about two million candidates expected to register between February 3 and March 3, JAMB has set a daily registration target of 60,000 candidates. As of now, 782,027 candidates have already completed their registration across 856 accredited centers nationwide. Among them, 11,553 are underage, falling below the official minimum university admission age of 16.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this while monitoring the registration exercise at several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers in Lagos, including JKK House on Ikorodu Road, Yaba College of Technology, Human Development Initiatives in Iwaya, and Yaba Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) e-library.
Expressing satisfaction with the registration process, Oloyede described it as the smoothest and most efficient JAMB has ever conducted.
“Previously, we faced challenges such as network failures and power outages, but this year, the process has been seamless. In just 10 days, we have registered 782,027 candidates—an unprecedented figure,” he stated.
He further noted that JAMB has, for the first time, recorded up to 80,000 registrations per day, eliminating the need for an extension of the registration period.
Regarding underage candidates, Oloyede explained that while the minimum university admission age remains 16, exceptionally gifted students are allowed to register, provided they can demonstrate their academic capabilities.
Additionally, he stated that candidates who are not yet eligible for admission due to incomplete O’level results but wish to familiarize themselves with the CBT format are also permitted to register.
Oloyede reminded prospective candidates that UTME registration is conducted individually and not school-based, meaning they can register at any accredited CBT center nationwide.
