The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of underage candidates for viewing, stressing that the release does not automatically make them eligible for admission.
JAMB, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said an underage candidate is any applicant who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
According to the Board, the results were released to enable candidates, parents and guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, the scores cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose except by candidates who satisfy the requirements for exceptional admission.
“Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320 and at least 80 per cent in the relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable,” Benjamin said.
JAMB said candidates seeking exceptional admission must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and maturity and undergo several stages of assessment and verification.
The candidates must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment by experts before they can be considered for admission.
“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” Benjamin added.
The Board explained that the rigorous process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who merely performed well in the UTME.
JAMB said the exceptional admission process was still ongoing, as all stages of assessment and verification had yet to be completed.
It added that candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results would be given the opportunity to present their results for verification before the final assessment.
“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the Board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” Benjamin said.
He said JAMB would announce a date for the final assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates once the NECO results were released.
The Board also warned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals who might attempt to exploit the process by promising to secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved procedure.
JAMB advised candidates who do not meet the exceptional-admission requirements not to present their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.
How to check the results
Underage candidates can check their 2026 UTME results by sending “RESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same telephone number with which they registered for the examination.
The development follows JAMB’s earlier decision to withhold the results of underage candidates while it screened those who met the threshold for exceptional consideration.
In April, the Board began inviting underage candidates who scored at least 320 in the UTME for the next stage of assessment at their chosen institutions. JAMB had explained that only candidates meeting the required benchmark would proceed to further screening.
JAMB’s 2026 admission guidelines generally require candidates to be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, although exceptionally gifted underage candidates may be considered under the special admission provision.
The Board said the exceptional admission process would remain rigorous and merit-based to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
