The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the results of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for underage candidates, allowing them and their parents or guardians to check their performance.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin, however, clarified that the release of the results does not automatically make all underage candidates eligible for admission.
According to him, an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is any candidate who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
He explained that the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to assess their performance. The results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidate meets the conditions for exceptional consideration.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card they used to register for the UTME.
Benjamin said JAMB had previously stipulated that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who satisfy all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
He advised candidates who do not meet the requirements against presenting their UTME results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.
The JAMB spokesperson said the exceptional admission process was deliberately rigorous and involved several stages of assessment designed to identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity.
One of the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, as well as at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
Candidates must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment conducted by designated experts.
Benjamin explained that the process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply achieved high UTME scores.
He added that the assessment process was still ongoing, noting that all stages of verification had yet to be completed.
According to him, JAMB would also wait for the release of the National Examinations Council results before concluding the process, as candidates awaiting their NECO results must be given an opportunity to present them for verification.
He said the Board would announce the date for the final assessment once the NECO results are released.
Benjamin stressed that admission would not be based solely on UTME performance but on a comprehensive assessment of each candidate’s academic qualifications and overall eligibility.
He also warned parents, guardians and candidates to be wary of individuals claiming they could secure admission for underage candidates outside JAMB’s approved process.
He reiterated that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result does not guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not reached the prescribed admission age.
Benjamin assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, adding that JAMB remained committed to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
