No Increase in 2026 UTME, Direct Entry Fees as JAMB Assures Nigerians, Announces Registration Dates and Upholds Tinubu’s Human-Face Policy

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured candidates and parents that there will be no increment in the cost of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE). In its Weekly Bulletin, the Board stated that it has not raised examination fees in the past nine years and has even reduced registration costs under the current administration.

JAMB explained that any future adjustment would only be considered if absolutely necessary to maintain the integrity, quality, and credibility of its examinations. The policy, it said, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive—conveyed through the Minister of Education—that government agencies must adopt a “human-face” approach and be sensitive to the economic realities facing Nigerian families. The Board emphasized that the cost for the 2026 exercise will remain largely the same as in the previous year, enabling families to plan ahead.

The examination body urged parents and guardians to make early preparations and ensure timely registration, warning that the registration window will not be extended once it opens. JAMB also highlighted its continued efficiency and prudent management, noting that despite reduced fees, it has made substantial remittances to the Federal Government, reflecting its commitment to accountability, transparency, and affordability.

Meanwhile, JAMB announced that the sale of forms for the 2026 UTME will begin on Friday, January 31, 2026, and close on Saturday, March 8, 2026, reaffirming its pledge to sustain global best practices in the conduct of its examinations.

FG speaks on report that UTME no more required for varsity admission.

This clarification is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Mrs Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education.

Boriowo quoted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as saying the report was false, baseless, and did not originate from the Ministry.

Alausa said: “At no point did the Ministry issue or authorise any statement suggesting that JAMB is no longer mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions.

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


He reaffirmed that the established admission processes through JAMB remain fully operational and urged the public to disregard any contrary information.

Alausa said the Ministry had completely dissociated itself from the false publication circulated across various media platforms.

He urged prospective students, parents, and institutions to rely only on official communication channels of the Ministry and JAMB for verified information.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s collaboration with JAMB and other agencies to uphold transparency, fairness, and credibility in tertiary education admissions.

FG Scraps JAMB as Mandatory Requirement for Tertiary Admission.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new policy removing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination as a mandatory requirement for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges, aiming to broaden access to higher education.

Announced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and spearheaded by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the reform addresses longstanding barriers to tertiary education.

Each year, millions of students take the JAMB/UTME, but only a fraction secure admission due to stringent requirements.

The government attributes this low admission rate to restrictive policies rather than student performance.

Under the new guidelines, tertiary institutions can now admit students based on their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, such as WAEC or NECO.

Universities require at least five credits in relevant subjects, including English, with Mathematics mandatory only for science, technology, and social science programs.

For National Diploma (ND) programs in polytechnics, a minimum of four credits, including English, is sufficient, while Higher National Diploma (HND) programs require five credits, including English and Mathematics.

The policy aims to reduce obstacles and provide equitable opportunities for students to pursue higher education. While JAMB/UTME remains an option, it is no longer the sole pathway to admission, granting institutions greater flexibility to use SSCE results for admissions decisions.

FG Overhauls Tertiary Admission Policy, Drops Maths Requirement for Arts Students.

The Federal Government has announced a major overhaul of admission requirements into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, aimed at expanding access to higher education and ensuring inclusivity.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the statement, the reform driven by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa is part of efforts to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda and promote inclusive education as a catalyst for national development.

Under the new policy, entry barriers into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will be eased, with mathematics no longer compulsory for students applying to certain arts and humanities programmes.

Dr. Alausa explained that the reform became necessary following years of limited access to tertiary education, which left many qualified candidates without admission.

He noted that out of over two million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) yearly, only about 700,000 gain admission, a gap largely caused by rigid and outdated entry requirements.

The Minister added that the new framework would enable institutions to admit an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually, expanding opportunities for capable young Nigerians.

Outcry As Federal Universities Reject NECO Results For Admission.

A wave of outrage has greeted reports that some Federal Universities in Nigeria have allegedly refused to accept the recently released National Examinations Council (NECO) results from admission seekers, sparking condemnation from education advocates and concerned parents.

The Centre for Indigent Children Education (CICE), a non-governmental organization, has strongly criticized the development, describing it as “a deliberate denial of the right to education and an open-day robbery against innocent students.”

In a statement signed by its Director, Adebisi Ishola, CICE accused institutions such as the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) and the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) of rejecting candidates who applied for admission using “Awaiting Result” pending the release of their NECO results.

According to the organization, the affected universities accepted applications from candidates with Awaiting Results, collected post-UTME screening fees, and even conducted entrance tests, only to later deny admission to those whose NECO results were not uploaded before the institutions closed their online portals.

“This is a deliberate attempt to subvert the constitutionally guaranteed right to education. Many of these indigent students risked their lives traveling across the country for post-UTME screenings, only to be unfairly denied admission,” Ishola said.

CICE noted that the University of Ilorin allegedly closed its admission portal on September 4, 2025, almost two weeks before the 2025 NECO results were released on September 17, 2025, a move the group described as “coordinated exclusion” that unfairly penalized candidates relying on the national exam body.

The group called on the Minister of Education, as well as the Registrars of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and NECO, to urgently intervene and ensure the reopening of university portals to allow affected students to upload their NECO results.

“If this issue is not urgently addressed, it may lead to widespread litigation and loss of public trust in the NECO examination system,” the statement warned.

Court orders two Nigerian universities to halt admission process.

In her ruling, Justice Segun-Bello asked all parties to maintain the status quo as regards the admission processes, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

OAU and UNILAG Logo
OAU and UNILAG Logos
A Federal High Court in Enugu has directed the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, to halt all admission processes arising from the recently concluded Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) conducted by both universities.

Justice Mabel Segun-Bello delivered the ruling on Tuesday, following a motion ‘ex parte’ filed by five candidates, suing for themselves and “on behalf of all other affected candidates of the 2025 UNILAG and OAU Post-UTME.”

The candidates are Chibuzor Succes, Zainab Oyeleye, Adedeji Samuel, Monsura Aduragbemi and Bassey Nsikak. They are represented by F.K. Nnadi and Co., an Enugu-based law firm.

Also added as a defendant in the suit is the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), where the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) used for offering admissions is domiciled.

The spokesperson for OAU, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the university is aware of the ruling but has not studied it as a result of the public holiday.

Mr Olarewaju said the university will look into the ruling and make its position known.

“After the university deliberates on this issue, we will come out with our own position,” he told our reporter in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Efforts to reach UNILAG spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem were unsuccessful, as her phone line was unreachable and a text message inquiry went unanswered.

University Of Lagos Denies Withholding Post-UTME Results As Aggrieved Candidates Threaten Court Action

CBT Centres Involved In UTME Tech Fraud To Be Closed, Owners Jailed — Epelle

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Special Committee on Examination Infractions says computer-based test (CBT) centres found guilty of aiding fraud in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will be shut down and their owners prosecuted.

Committee chairman, Jake Epelle, revealed that investigators uncovered 4,251 cases of fingerprint manipulation (“finger blending”) and 192 instances of AI-assisted impersonation. He warned that exam malpractice has reached an alarming level, driven largely by parents, tutorial centres, and corrupt CBT operators.

Epelle stressed that while JAMB’s system remains secure, criminals are exploiting advanced technology. He urged JAMB to “name and shame” parents complicit in malpractice, noting that 80% of infractions were parent-driven.

The committee also documented nearly 1,900 false disability claims, forged credentials, and collusion between candidates and syndicates. It recommended AI-powered monitoring and a central exam security hub to strengthen future UTME integrity.

Over 6,400 Candidates At Risk As JAMB Panel Submits UTME Malpractice Report

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says its Special Committee on Examination Infractions will submit its final report today, September 8, 2025, amid ongoing controversies over widespread cheating in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The committee, chaired by Dr. Jake Epelle, was set up in August to probe 6,458 withheld results linked to impersonation, AI-assisted cheating, and server hacking during the April–May exams.

If found guilty, candidates risk cancellation of results, disqualification from future exams, or prosecution. Education stakeholders say the report could reshape Nigeria’s exam system, as JAMB faces pressure to balance sanctions with fairness to innocent candidates.

JUST IN: Olabisi Onabanjo University reportedly mandated applicants with dreadlocks and braids to cut their hair before sitting for PUTME exam to gain admission into the school

JAMB Sets Rules for Under-16 UTME Candidates: 320 UTME Score, 80% in WAEC/NECO, and Post-UTME Screening Now Mandatory.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced stringent conditions for considering under-16 candidates for the 2025/2026 tertiary admission cycle.

To qualify, candidates below 16 must score at least 320 out of 400 in UTME, secure 80% in post-UTME, and achieve a minimum of 80% (24 out of 30 points) in either WAEC or NECO in a single sitting. Combinations of WAEC and NECO results will not be accepted.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed the new policy during a virtual meeting with vice chancellors and admission heads, stating the board will no longer accommodate the practice of admitting emotionally and psychologically unprepared children into universities.

He emphasized that only academically exceptional underage candidates would be considered, and even then, they must undergo a rigorous screening process—regardless of whether their chosen institution has suspended post-UTME for others.

The announcement aligns with the Federal Government’s reaffirmation of 16 as the minimum age for tertiary education. Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the policy aims to curb the increasing number of underage admissions and promote a balance between academic readiness and cognitive maturity.

Additionally, science candidates must include Mathematics, and arts candidates must include English in their top subjects.

JUST IN: LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LASUSTECH) RELEASES POST UTME/DE ADMISSION FORM FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS (UNILAG) RELEASES POST UTME ADMISSION FORM FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

The University of Lagos online registration for the Post-UTME Screening Exercise for Admission into ALL UNDERGRADUATE COURSES/PROGRAMMES for the 2025/2026 Academic Session, will commence from Monday, July 28 to Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES
Candidates who made University of Lagos their first choice in the 2025/2026 UTME and scored 200 and above are eligible to apply for Post-UTME Online Screening. In addition, candidates must possess five (5) credit passes at one sitting in relevant O/level subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
Only candidates who must have uploaded their O/Level results on or before September 12, 2025 will be considered for admission.
Candidates, who will not be sixteen (16) years of age by September 30, 2025 are not eligible and need not apply.
Candidates who do not participate in the Post-UTME Online Aptitude test will not be considered for admission.
Candidates must use their personal and active emails to register for the Post-UTME Screening as this will be the channel for communication.
Former students of the University whose admissions were withdrawn on the basis of poor academic performance or absence status could re-apply on condition that the new admission shall be for a new programme/course different from the former programme/course.
Any student expelled from the University cannot be offered fresh admission.
APPLICATION FEE – N2, 000 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE – N3, 500

MOCK AND POST-UTME TEST (ONLINE)
Mock Examinations will hold from Monday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Post-UTME On-line Aptitude test will hold from Monday, September 1 to Friday, September 5, 2025.

The University has zero tolerance for drug abuse. The University shall withdraw the admission of admitted students who test positive for drug use whenever the University conducts the test, either before or after registration

JUST IN

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA (UNN) RELEASES POST-UTME/DE ADMISSION FORM FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) invites applications from candidates who made UNN their first-choice institution in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and scored 160 and above for the Post-UTME screening exercise.

Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must have made UNN their first-choice institution in the 2025 UTME.
Names on the candidate’s O’Level (WAEC/NECO) results must match the names used for JAMB registration.
Candidates below the age of 16 years as of 30th September 2025 are not eligible to apply.
Candidates awaiting November/December 2025 GCE or NECO results are not eligible to apply.

Registration Period:
Starts: Monday, July 14, 2025
Ends: Friday, August 15, 2025 (midnight)

For Direct Entry (DE) Candidates
All Direct Entry candidates who made UNN their first-choice institution must also register for the screening. Candidates should ensure their A’Level result has been verified by the Nigerian Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) as required by JAMB.

Important Notice:
Candidates are advised to visit the University website regularly for updates on the screening exercise.

UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR (UNICAL) RELEASES POST-UTME/DE ADMISSION FORM FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION✅️

This is to inform the general public and all interested candidates that the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has officially released its Post-UTME/Direct Entry admission form for the 2025/2026 academic session.

ELIGIBILITY:
Candidates who selected UNICAL as their first choice in the 2025 JAMB UTME and scored 150 and above.

Registration Starts: Friday, 18th July, 2025
Deadline: Monday, 4th August, 2025 (Portal closes by 12:00 midnight)

DATE OF SCREENING EXERCISE:
The screening date will be printed on each candidate’s Post-UTME Screening Schedule Printout after successful registration.

All interested applicants are strongly advised to complete their registration before the deadline, as the portal will not be reopened after closing.

This year’s admission will be highly competitive. Don’t delay your future.

UPDATE

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY (OAU) RELEASES 2025/26 POST-UTME ADMISSION FORM (DETAILS)

JUST IN
OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY (OOU ) RELEASES 2025/2026 POST UTME ADMISSION FORM .

JUST IN

FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, ILARO (ILAROPOLY) RELEASES ND/HND ADMISSION FORM FOR 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

Application for Screening and Validation of credentials is hereby requested from interested candidates who wrote the 2025/2026 UTME and made The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro their 1st Choice or are willing to change to llaro as their 1st Choice Institution.

ELIGIBILITY
• Candidates who chose The Federal Polytechnic flaro as their the 2025 UTME 1st choice and whose score is not below 150 in the 2025 UTME JAMB

• Candidate should not be below the age of 16.

• Candidates who did not choose The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro but are ready and able to effect a change of Institution to make The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro their First Choice Institution.

• Physically challenged candidates.

• International candidates.

FOR ND/HND OPEN DISTANCE FLEXIBLE E-LEARNING ADMISSION
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro for Full-Time Programmes and Open Distance & Flexible E-Learning (ONLINE) Programmes leading to the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) qualification for Programmes for 2025/2026 Academic Session.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

(i.) National Diploma not below Lower Credit (with CGPA not less than 2.50) and basic requirements for the National Diploma Programme in the applicant’s discipline;

(ii) Possession of the specific SSSCE requirements i.e. WAEC/NECO/NABTEB/GCE O’Level for the programme for which the candidate is applying.

(iii) Good performance in the Screening exercise to be conducted by the Polytechnic.


(iv) Minimum of One Calendar Year Post National Diploma relevant Industrial Experience.

(v) Candidate’s National Diploma academic transcript should be sent by the ND awarding Institution for Candidates who did not finish from The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro under Confidential Cover to: The Registrar, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.

ADMITTED CANDIDATES SHALL NOT BE REGISTERED BEFORE THE RECEIPT OF ND ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

Entrance Examination dates for ALL Programmes HND Full-Time Programmes will be announced later on the Institution’s Website and via the applicant’s personal email addresses.

UPDATE

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, OTO/IJANIKIN (LASUED) RELEASES UTME/DIRECT ENTRY ADMISSION FORM FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

The management of LASUED has announced the start of the online registration for the 2025/2026 Post-UTME and Direct Entry screening exercise. This process helps the school choose students for admission into its many undergraduate programmes.

Cutoff Mark // 170

Important Dates to Remember;

Registration Starts: Wednesday, 16th July, 2025

Registration Ends: Sunday, 31st August, 2025

All interested candidates must complete their registration within this period. Late registration will not be accepted.

OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY

LIST OF COURSES OFFERED IN OOU WITH THE REQUIRED JAMB SCORE AND POST UTME CUT-OFF MARK TO STUDY THE COURSE

TO BE ON A PRESERVED SIDE, YOU NEED TO TARGET AT LEAST THE SAME SCORES BELOW; SO AS TO GAIN ADMISSION INTO OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY (OOU).


1. APPLIED GEOPHYSICS (Jamb - 180+) (Putme - 50)

2. ACCOUNTING (Jamb- 220+) (Putme- 60)

3. AGRIC-EXTENSION & RURAL SOCIOLOGY (Jamb 180+) (Putme- 50)

4. AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS & FARM MANAGEMENT (Jamb 200+) (Putme -50)

5. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING (Jamb 200+) (Putme 50)

6. AGRICULTURE (Jamb 180+) (Putme 50)

7. ANATOMY ( Jamb 200+) (Putme 60)

8. APPLIED ZOOLOGY ( Jamb 180+) (Putme 40)

9. BUILDING TECHNOLOGY (Jamb 170+) (Putme 40)

10. BANKING & FINANCE (Jamb 220+) (Putme 60)

11. BIOCHEMISTRY (Jamb 180+) (Putme 50)

12. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Jamb 200+) (Putme 50)

13. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Jamb 200+) (Putme 55)

14. BUSINESS EDUCATION (Jamb 160+) (Putme 40)

15. CHEMICAL SCIENCES (Jamb 160+) (Putme 40)

16. CHEMISTRY (jamb 160+) (Putme 40)

17. CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES (Jamb 160+) (Putme 40)

18. CIVIL ENGINEERING (Jamb 200+) (Putme 60)

19. CIVIL LAW (Jamb 250+) (Putme 70/80)

20. COMPUTER ENGINEERING (Jamb 200+) (Putme 60)

21. COMPUTER SCIENCE (jamb200+) (putme 60)

22. CROP PRODUCTION (160+) (50)

23. EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT (180+) (50)

24. ESTATE MANAGEMENT (200+) (50)

25. ECONOMICS EDUCATION (160+) (40)

26. BIOLOGY EDUCATION (160+) (40)

27. CHEMISTRY EDUCATION (160+) (40)

28. COMPUTER SCIENCE (200+) (60)

*29. EDUCATION & ECONOMICS* (170+) (50)

30. EDUCATION & ENGLISH LANGUAGE (160+) (50)

31. EDUCATION & FRENCH (160+) (40)

32. EDUCATION & GEOGRAPHY (160+) (40)

33. EDUCATION & INTEGRATED SCIENCE (160+) (40)

34. EDUCATION & MATHEMATICS (160+) (40)

35. EDUCATION & PHYSICS (160+) (40)

36. EDUCATION & POLITICAL SCIENCE (160+) (40)

37. EDUCATION & SOCIAL STUDIES (160+) (40)

38. EDUCATION & YORUBA (160+) (40)

39. EDUCATION ACCOUNTING (160+) (40)

40. ELECTRICAL /ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING (200+) (50)

41. ENGLISH LANGUAGE (200+) (50)

42. FINE/APPLIED ARTS (180+) (50)

43. FISHERIES (160+) (40)

44. FORESTRY & WILDLIFE (180+) (50)

45. FORENSIC SCIENCE (200+) (50)

46. FORESTRY WILDLIFE & FISHERIES (180+) (50)

47. FRENCH (180+)(50)

48. GEOGRAPHY & REGIONAL PLANNING (180+)(50)

49. GEOLOGY (180+)(50)

50. GUIDANCE & COUNSELLING (160+)(40)

51. HEALTH EDUCATION (160+)(40)

52. HISTORY & DIPLOMATIC STUDIES (180+)(50)

53. HOME & HOTEL MANAGEMENT (180+)(50)

54. HOME ECONOMICS (200+)(50)

55. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & PERSONAL MANAGEMENT (180+)(50)

56. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY (180+)(50)

57. ISLAMIC STUDIES (160+)(40)

58. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE (180+)(50)

59. LINGUISTICS (200+)(60)

60. MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE (180+)(50)

61. MASS COMMUNICATION (220+)(60)

62. MATHEMATICS (180+)(50)

63. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (200+)(60)

64. MEDICINE & SURGERY (270+)(70)

65. MICROBIOLOGY (200+)(50)

66. MUSIC (200+)(50)

67. NURSERY & PRIMARY EDUCATION (160+)(40)

68. NURSING (240+)(70)

69. PERFORMING ARTS (200+)(60)

70. PHARMACOLOGY (240+)(60)

71. PHARMACY (240+)(70)

72. PHILOSOPHY (200+)(55)

73. PHYSICS (170+)(50)

74. PHYSIOLOGY (180+)(50)

75. PLANT SCIENCE (180+)(50)

76. POLITICAL SCIENCE (200+)(50)

77. PSYCHOLOGY (200+)(60)

78. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (180+)(50)

79. QUANTITY SURVEYING (180+)(50)

80. SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATION (180+)(50)

81. SOCIOLOGY (200+)(50)

82. SPORT SCIENCE (180+)(40)

83. STATISTICS (200+)(50)

84. TEACHER EDUCATION SCIENCE (160+)(50)

85. TAXATION (200+)(50)

86. TRANSPORT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT (180+)(50)

87. URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING (180+)(50)

88. YORUBA (180+)(50)