The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of candidates who sat for the examination despite being below the prescribed admission age.
Also read: Governor Mbah Approves Scholarships for Over 760 Enugu Students, Teachers
The development allows thousands of young candidates and their parents or guardians to finally know their performance, but JAMB has warned that seeing the result does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
JAMB defines an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as anyone who will be below 16 years of age by September 30, 2026. The board said the results were released primarily to enable the affected candidates to ascertain how they performed in the examination.
According to the board, candidates seeking exceptional consideration for admission must satisfy a much stricter assessment process. Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400, alongside at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
Such candidates must also meet the Post UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and pass a final assessment conducted by experts before they can be considered for admission.
JAMB explained that the exceptional admission process was designed to identify candidates who demonstrate not only outstanding academic ability but also the maturity required for university education.
The board said the 2026 assessment process is still ongoing and that candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results must be allowed to present those results for verification before the final stage can be completed.
The final assessment date will be announced after the release of the NECO results.
JAMB has also cautioned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals who may attempt to exploit the process by promising admission outside the approved procedure.
The board stressed that participation in the UTME and the release of a result do not by themselves guarantee admission.
For candidates who simply want to check their performance, JAMB said the result can be obtained by sending the word RESULT by SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the same telephone number used during registration.
The development is expected to bring relief to many families who have been waiting to know the outcome of the examination, while also reinforcing JAMB’s position that exceptional admission for underage candidates must remain rigorous and merit based.
Leave a Comment