The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of all underage candidates for viewing, even as it disclosed that the admission process for exceptionally performing candidates below the prescribed age is still ongoing.
The development came as the Board’s new management commenced discussions with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on possible collaboration, including the deployment of biometric verification equipment to strengthen JAMB’s examination operations.
JAMB, in a statement signed by its Ag. Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, said an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise was anyone who will be below 16 years as of September 30, 2026.
The Board, however, cautioned that making the results available does not automatically make underage candidates eligible for admission.
It explained that the results were released primarily to enable candidates, parents and guardians to know their performance and that such results could not be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidates satisfied the stringent conditions for exceptional consideration.
Underage candidates can check their results by sending RESULT to 55019 or 66019, using the same SIM card used for registration for the UTME.
JAMB said only candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity would be considered for admission, stressing that a good UTME score alone would not be sufficient.
Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.
Such candidates must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts.
The Board said the rigorous process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who merely performed well in the UTME.
It disclosed that the process had not been concluded because candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results must also be given the opportunity to present their results for verification.
According to JAMB, the NECO results are yet to be released and the Board will await their release before proceeding to the final stage of assessment. It said a date for the final assessment would be announced as soon as the NECO results are released.
The Board warned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals claiming to be able to secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved process.
It stressed that participation in the UTME and release of a candidate’s result do not, in themselves, guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
Meanwhile, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, has sought closer institutional collaboration with INEC, particularly in the area of biometric technology and resource optimisation.
Aina led the Board’s management team on a courtesy visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, where he formally introduced the new JAMB management and discussed areas of mutual cooperation.
He commended INEC for its confidence in JAMB, particularly its use of the Board’s services in recruitment exercises, noting that both agencies rely heavily on biometric technology, identity verification and systems designed to protect the integrity of their processes.
The Registrar therefore appealed to INEC to consider making available, where feasible, some of its biometric verification machines for deployment by JAMB during examinations.
According to him, the proposal was aimed at enabling the Board to improve services to candidates without increasing the existing cost of its examinations.
He said: “Our request is essentially about resource optimisation. We want to continue giving our candidates the best possible services within the current fee regime without having to increase the cost to them.
“If a sister agency has resources that are not currently in use, there is nothing wrong in exploring whether those resources can be deployed to support another government agency”
Responding, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan described JAMB as a critical institution in the education and advancement of Nigerian youths and welcomed the proposed collaboration.
Amupitan directed the Commission’s Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to examine the request and conduct a proof-of-concept assessment to determine the availability, technical condition and suitability of biometric verification equipment that could potentially be deployed by JAMB.
He said closer cooperation among federal agencies could improve efficiency, promote knowledge sharing and contribute to national development.
The INEC chairman also disclosed his intention to reciprocate the visit by visiting JAMB headquarters at a mutually convenient date.
Both agencies agreed to continue discussions on the proposed collaboration and explore other areas of institutional cooperation aimed at improving public service delivery.
