The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of all underage candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for viewing, in line with its policy on the participation of candidates below the prescribed admission age.
A statement by the Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, on Saturday, defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.
The Board, however, clarified that the release of the results for viewing does not confer admission eligibility on all underage candidates, as admission into tertiary institutions remains subject to conditions stipulated by JAMB and other relevant regulatory requirements.
To check their results, candidates are required to send “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card used to register for the UTME.
JAMB said the results were released primarily to enable candidates, their parents and guardians to know their performance in the examination.
It stated that the results could not be used for admission or any other official purpose, except for candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
The Board said only exceptionally performing underage candidates who meet the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
It therefore warned candidates who do not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration against presenting their results to any institution or individual for the purpose of securing admission.
JAMB reiterated that the exceptional admission process was deliberately rigorous and involved multiple stages of assessment to ensure that only candidates who demonstrate the required academic maturity and exceptional ability were considered.
Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside a minimum of 80 per cent performance in the 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.
The Board explained that the process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who may have merely performed well in the UTME.
It added that the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates was still ongoing, as all the necessary stages of assessment and verification had not been concluded.
JAMB said it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present them for verification.
The Board noted that the NECO results had yet to be released and that it would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process.
JAMB said it would fix and announce a date for the final assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates as soon as the NECO results were released.
The Board stressed that the process was not based solely on UTME performance but involved a comprehensive assessment to ensure that only candidates who genuinely satisfied all the prescribed requirements were considered for admission.
JAMB urged parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid patronising individuals who claim to be able to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process.
The Board reiterated that participation in the UTME and the release of a candidate’s result did not, in themselves, guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who had not attained the prescribed admission age.
JAMB assured the public that the process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based in line with its commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process.
