The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results for underage candidates.
However, JAMB emphasized that this release does not automatically make all underage candidates eligible for admission. Only those who meet the Board’s strict criteria for exceptional consideration will be admitted.
This clarification was made in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin. He defined underage candidates for the 2026 admission cycle as those who will be younger than 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.
Dr. Benjamin explained that the main purpose of releasing the results was to allow candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. He stressed that these results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose unless the candidate fulfills the requirements for exceptional consideration.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card they used for UTME registration.
Dr. Benjamin reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and satisfy all stipulated conditions would be considered for admission. He advised those who do not meet the criteria not to present their results to any institution or individual for admission purposes.
He highlighted that the process for exceptional admission is deliberately rigorous, involving multiple stages of assessment. Candidates must achieve a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80% in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and undergo a final expert assessment.
Dr. Benjamin further explained that the process aims to distinguish truly exceptional underage candidates from those who simply performed well in the UTME. The admission process for these candidates is ongoing, and all stages of assessment and verification have not yet been completed.
He noted that it would be unfair to conclude the process without allowing candidates waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to submit them for review. Since NECO results have not yet been released, the Board will wait for their publication before proceeding to the final stage of assessment. Once the results are available, JAMB will announce the date for the final evaluation.
Dr. Benjamin stressed that admission for underage candidates is not based solely on UTME performance, but on a comprehensive review to ensure that only those who fully meet all criteria are admitted. He cautioned parents, guardians, candidates, and the public against dealing with anyone claiming to guarantee admission for underage candidates outside the official process.
He reiterated that participation in the UTME and the release of results do not guarantee admission, especially for those below the minimum age. Dr. Benjamin assured the public that the process for exceptionally performing underage candidates remains transparent, rigorous, and merit-based, reaffirming JAMB’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the admission process.
