The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new requirement for prospective candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Starting next year, all applicants will be obligated to declare their previous admission status, including whether they have previously accepted or rejected offers from tertiary institutions.
This directive, unveiled during a recent stakeholder engagement forum in Abuja, seeks to address longstanding issues of “admission hoarding” and inefficient resource allocation within the sector.
According to JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the measure will help streamline the admission process by identifying candidates who have already secured spots but continue to apply, thereby freeing up opportunities for others.
“Many qualified students miss out on admissions because some candidates who have been offered places elsewhere fail to update their status promptly,” Prof. Oloyede stated.
“This policy ensures accountability and fairness. By mandating full disclosure, we empower the system to make data-driven decisions that benefit the entire educational ecosystem.”
Key Details of the New Policy
Under the updated guidelines, UTME 2026 registrants must provide verifiable information on:
– Any prior admissions into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education.
– Whether the admission was accepted, deferred, or rejected.
– Reasons for non-completion of previously offered programs, if applicable.
Failure to comply with this disclosure could result in disqualification or penalties, including a ban from future examinations for up to two years.
JAMB has partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to cross-verify declarations through integrated digital platforms.
The board estimates that this initiative could reduce multiple applications by as much as 30%, based on preliminary data from pilot programs conducted in select states last year.
Educational experts hail the move as a step toward digitizing and modernizing Nigeria’s admission framework, which has long been plagued by manual processes and inconsistencies.
Broader Implications for Students and Institutions
For aspiring undergraduates, the policy underscores the importance of timely decision-making.
Candidates are advised to log into their JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) profiles regularly to update statuses accurately.
Guidance counselors across secondary schools have been urged to incorporate this requirement into pre-UTME preparation sessions.
Tertiary institutions, on the other hand, stand to gain from reduced administrative burdens. Vice-chancellors from leading universities, including the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University, have expressed support, noting that it will enhance enrollment planning and minimize vacant seats.
As Nigeria grapples with an expanding youth population and limited institutional capacity—over 1.5 million candidates sat for the 2025 UTME alone—this reform arrives at a critical juncture.
JAMB has promised further clarifications through its official website and social media channels in the coming weeks, with registration for the 2026 exam slated to commence in early 2026.
Stakeholders are optimistic that the disclosure mandate will foster a more equitable and efficient pathway to higher education, ultimately contributing to national development goals.