JAMB
Olasunkanmi Susan
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has registered over 1.5 million candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the registration deadline set for February 26, 2026. The sale of e-PINs, a mandatory requirement for registration, will close at 12:00 midnight on February 26, while registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres will end on February 28 .
JAMB has emphasized that there will be no extension of the registration deadline, citing a nationally coordinated examination calendar agreed upon by all examination bodies in Nigeria. The board has urged prospective candidates to obtain their e-PINs immediately and complete their registration at accredited centres.
Despite the impressive registration figure, JAMB noted that registration centres across the country are operating at barely 30% of their daily capacity, raising concerns that many eligible candidates are yet to take advantage of the ongoing exercise. The board has the capacity to register 100,000 candidates daily, significantly exceeding the current turnout.
The 2026 UTME is expected to attract millions of applicants seeking admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, making adherence to the registration timeline crucial for aspirants nationwide. JAMB has warned that candidates who delay registration until the final days may encounter avoidable challenges and stressed that it would not entertain appeals once the deadline lapses.
JAMB described the early warning as a proactive measure to ensure that no serious candidate is shut out of the examination process due to procrastination. The board has urged all prospective candidates to act now and complete their registration.
The UTME registration window was carefully structured to ensure a seamless transition to other public examination exercises scheduled to follow. JAMB operates within a nationally coordinated examination calendar, leaving no room for extension.
Parents and guardians have been advised to support candidates in completing the process early, particularly in rural areas where access to CBT centres may require travel. JAMB has assured the public that adequate centres and technical support systems have been deployed nationwide to accommodate remaining applicants.
