The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for checking.
However, the examination body clarified that having a UTME result does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.
According to Benjamin, candidates regarded as underage for the 2026 admission exercise are those who will be below 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.
He explained that the results were released primarily to enable candidates, parents and guardians to know their performance in the examination.
The JAMB spokesperson stressed that the results cannot be used to obtain admission or for other official purposes unless the candidate qualifies for the Board’s exceptional admission consideration.
Candidates can check their results by sending the word “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same telephone number they used during UTME registration.
Benjamin noted that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and meet all stipulated conditions would be considered for admission.
One of the major requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable. Candidates must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment.
He said the assessment process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional candidates from those who simply achieved high UTME scores.
According to him, the process is still ongoing, with some stages yet to be completed. JAMB is awaiting the release of the National Examinations Council (NECO) results because candidates who are waiting for their results must be given an opportunity to submit them for verification.
Benjamin said JAMB would announce the date for the final assessment after the NECO results are released.
He further emphasised that admission for underage candidates would not be determined by UTME scores alone, but by a comprehensive assessment of whether they meet all the requirements established by JAMB.
The Board also warned parents, guardians and candidates to beware of individuals claiming they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the official process.
JAMB reiterated that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result does not guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the required admission age.
Benjamin assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain strict, transparent and merit-based, as the Board continues to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
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