The Federal Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board remains the only body recognised to administer the UTME and process admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions, ending weeks of speculation that the examination might be dropped as a requirement.

Rumours to the contrary circulate most years, usually gathering pace during registration. This year they spread far enough that the ministry judged a formal statement necessary.

What has not changed

The minimum age for admission stays at sixteen. Candidates who will be under sixteen as of 30 September are classed as underage for the 2026 cycle, and while the board has released their results for viewing, it has stressed that this does not make them eligible for a place.

Institutions continue to set their own cut-off marks above the national minimum, which is where most of the actual competition happens.

For candidates

The practical advice has not changed either: register through the recognised channels, watch institutional cut-offs rather than the national floor, and treat anything claiming the UTME is being abolished as noise.

Lagos State University has been among the most heavily subscribed institutions this cycle.

Reporting by Premium Times. This summary was written by the TalkNaijaMedia desk.