The wait is over for thousands of Nigerian teenagers who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) despite being below the country’s prescribed minimum admission age.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 UTME results of underage candidates for viewing, but the examination body has made one thing clear: seeing the result does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
In a statement issued on Saturday by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, the board defined an underage candidate as an applicant who will be below 16 years old by September 30, 2026.
According to the board, the release is primarily intended to allow candidates, parents and guardians to see how the candidates performed in the UTME.
But when it comes to admission, the rules remain considerably stricter.
A high UTME score is only the beginning
JAMB said the released results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes except in cases involving candidates who qualify for its exceptional admission process.
And even then, performing exceptionally well in the UTME is not enough.
To be considered for exceptional admission, candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and maturity and pass several layers of assessment and verification.
One of the major requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320.
Candidates must also obtain at least 80 per cent in the relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
They must further meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen tertiary institutions before undergoing a final assessment by experts.
JAMB said the rigorous process is designed to ensure that exceptional admission is reserved for genuinely outstanding candidates rather than simply handed to every underage student who records a high UTME score.
Admission process is still ongoing
The board stressed that the assessment and admission process for exceptional underage candidates has not yet been completed.
Several stages of verification are still ongoing, meaning candidates who have viewed their UTME results should not interpret the release as an admission offer.
The situation is particularly relevant to candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results.
JAMB said it would be unreasonable to conclude the assessment process without giving such candidates the opportunity to submit their NECO results for verification.
Because the 2026 NECO results have not yet been released, the board said the final assessment date would be announced after the results become available.
JAMB warns against admission scams
With high-performing underage candidates and anxious parents likely to be searching for ways to secure early university admission, JAMB has issued a strong warning against potential exploitation.
The examination body cautioned parents, guardians and candidates to be wary of individuals who claim they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the official process.
Candidates who do not meet the prescribed requirements were also warned against presenting their viewed UTME results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to obtain admission.
The message from JAMB is clear: sitting the UTME, receiving a result — or even achieving a very high score — does not by itself guarantee admission.
For underage candidates, admission remains subject to the board’s exceptional assessment process, institutional requirements and final verification.
JAMB said the exercise would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that only candidates who genuinely demonstrate the required academic ability and maturity are considered for exceptional admission.
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