JAMB Sets January 26 as Kickoff Date for 2026 UTME Registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rolled out the timeline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with registration set to commence today, Monday, January 26, and wrap up on February 28 across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

According to details from a recent meeting in Lagos with Commissioners for Education, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede revealed that the sale of UTME application documents, known as ePINs, actually started on January 19 and will continue until February 26. This allows candidates to purchase the necessary pins ahead of time before heading to CBT centres for the full registration process between January 26 and February 28.

“The sale of UTME application documents, which is the ePIN, will start earlier than the actual registration,” Oloyede explained during the session. “Actual UTME registration period is between January 26 and February 28 at all approved CBT centres.”

Aspiring candidates eyeing the mock examination should note that the selection window for it closes on February 16. For those pursuing Direct Entry (DE), the sale of application documents and ePIN vending kicks off on March 2 and ends on April 25.

A key update this year involves underage candidates. JAMB is tightening rules on age eligibility, enforcing a minimum of 16 years for university admission. Unlike in past exercises, results for those below the age threshold will only be released after a thorough evaluation, especially for applicants seeking age waivers. This move aims to ensure fairness and proper assessment in the admission process.

Oloyede also issued a stern warning to CBT centres: all registration activities will be monitored live from JAMB’s headquarters in real time. Any centre whose processes cannot be viewed remotely risks non-payment and potential invalidation of registrations conducted there. So far, 924 CBT centres have been screened and provisionally approved, but they must pass a final integrity test before getting the green light for the 2026 UTME.

The registrar emphasized that candidates should not be charged any extra service fees beyond the official JAMB-approved amounts. He addressed common gripes about exam postings, clarifying that JAMB does not assign candidates to towns outside their chosen preferences during registration.

To avoid disappointments, Oloyede urged prospective UTME takers to register early, as latecomers might miss out on securing spots in their desired examination locations. With the exercise now underway, students across Naija are advised to gather their documents, including National Identification Number (NIN), and head to accredited centres promptly.

JAMB continues to stress the importance of integrity in the process, with plans to announce the main UTME dates later. For more details, candidates can visit the official JAMB portal or check updates from reliable sources.