JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Results for Underage Candidates, Sets Conditions for Admission
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results of underage candidates for candidates and their parents or guardians to access.
The development was disclosed in Abuja on Saturday in a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin clarified that the release of the results does not automatically make every underage candidate eligible for admission, stressing that admission would only be considered for candidates who meet the Board’s stringent conditions for exceptional consideration.
He explained that an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is any candidate who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
According to the statement, the results were released mainly to allow underage candidates and their parents or guardians to know how they performed in the 2026 UTME.
Benjamin said the results could not be used to secure admission or for any other official purpose, except for candidates who meet the requirements established for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their UTME results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 from the same SIM card used during UTME registration.
The JAMB spokesperson said the Board had previously made it clear that only underage candidates who perform exceptionally and meet all the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
He consequently warned candidates who do not qualify for exceptional consideration against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to obtain admission.
Benjamin said the exceptional admission process was intentionally designed to be rigorous, with several stages of assessment aimed at identifying candidates who possess the academic maturity and exceptional ability required for consideration.
He disclosed that candidates must attain a minimum UTME score of 320 and, where applicable, record at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, SSCE, subjects.
“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” he said.
Benjamin explained that the multiple assessment stages were intended to separate genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply achieved strong scores in the UTME.
He said the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates remains ongoing, noting that the required assessment and verification stages have not yet been completed.
The JAMB official said it would be inappropriate to conclude the process before candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council, NECO, results have an opportunity to submit them for verification.
“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the Board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he said.
Benjamin said JAMB would announce a date for the final assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates once the NECO results are released.
He stressed that consideration for admission is not determined solely by performance in the UTME, but through a comprehensive assessment designed to establish whether candidates have satisfied all the stipulated requirements.
The spokesperson also cautioned parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public against dealing with individuals who claim they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the official process.
He reiterated that sitting for the UTME and receiving a result do not automatically guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not reached the prescribed admission age.
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Benjamin assured the public that the assessment and admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would continue to be transparent, rigorous and based on merit.
He further reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission process and ensuring that only candidates who meet the established requirements are admitted.
