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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates, clarifying that the results do not automatically qualify them for admission into tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, JAMB's Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the results were released to enable candidates and their parents or guardians assess their performance.
He explained that candidates considered underage for the 2026 admission exercise are those who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
Benjamin stressed that the results cannot be used for admission or any official purpose except by candidates who satisfy the Board's stringent requirements for exceptional admission.
He advised candidates to check their results by sending "RESULT" to 55019 or 66019 using the same telephone number used during UTME registration.
According to JAMB, only exceptionally gifted underage candidates will be considered for admission through a rigorous assessment process.
Among the conditions is a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, successful completion of the institution's Post-UTME screening and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Benjamin said the process is designed to identify candidates with exceptional academic ability and maturity, rather than those who merely performed well in the UTME.
He added that the admission exercise for underage candidates is still ongoing, noting that the Board is awaiting the release of the National Examinations Council (NECO) results before concluding the assessment.
According to him, JAMB will announce the date for the final stage of the screening once the NECO results are released.
The Board also warned parents, guardians and candidates against dealing with individuals claiming they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved process.
Benjamin reiterated that sitting for the UTME and having the result released do not guarantee admission, especially for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
He assured the public that the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would remain transparent, merit-based and in line with the Board's regulations.
