The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by underage candidates for viewing.
JAMB, however, clarified that the release of the results does not automatically make all underage candidates eligible for admission into tertiary institutions.
The Board said only candidates who meet its stringent conditions for exceptional consideration would be eligible for admission.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
According to Benjamin, an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is any candidate who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
He explained that the results were released mainly to enable candidates, parents and guardians to know their performance in the examination.
He stressed that the results could not be used for admission or any other official purpose except by candidates who meet the requirements for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
Benjamin said JAMB had earlier made it clear that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who satisfy all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
He consequently warned candidates who fail to meet the requirements against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.
The JAMB spokesperson said the exceptional admission process was deliberately designed to be rigorous, involving multiple stages of assessment to ensure that only candidates with proven academic maturity and exceptional ability were considered.
Among the requirements, he said, is a minimum UTME score of 320, as well as at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.
“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 process was intended to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply recorded high scores in the UTME.
He disclosed that the admission process was still ongoing, noting that all stages of assessment and verification had yet to be completed.
He said the Board would not conclude the process before candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results were given the opportunity to submit the results 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 added that JAMB would announce a date for the final assessment as soon as the NECO results were released.
He emphasised that admission for underage candidates would not be based solely on UTME performance but on a comprehensive assessment of their eligibility and academic capability.
The spokesperson also cautioned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals claiming to have the ability to secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved process.
He reiterated that sitting for the UTME or receiving a UTME result does not guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
Benjamin assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, stressing JAMB’s commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s admission system.
