JAMB releases underage candidates’ UTME results, admission process ongoing
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of all underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in line with its established policy on the participation of candidates below the prescribed admission age.
According to the Board, an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at 30 September 2026, while clarifying that the release of results for viewing does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates, as admission remains subject to conditions stipulated by the Board and other regulatory requirements.
To check their results, candidates are to send RESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used during UTME registration.
JAMB said the results have been made available primarily to allow candidates and their parents or guardians to know how they performed, stressing that such results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose except in respect of candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
The Board reiterated that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who meet the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission, and warned candidates who do not qualify against presenting their results to any institution or individual to secure admission.
Among the requirements for consideration is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside at least 80 per cent performance in the relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable. Such candidates must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment by experts, a process JAMB said is designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply performed well in the UTME.
The Board explained that the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates remains ongoing and has not been exhausted, as not all stages of assessment and verification have been concluded. It noted that it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present them for verification, adding that it would await the release of NECO results before proceeding to the final assessment stage.
JAMB said a date for the final stage of assessment would be fixed and announced as soon as NECO results are released, stressing that the process is not merely a matter of UTME performance but a comprehensive assessment to ensure only candidates who genuinely satisfy all prescribed requirements are considered.
The Board urged parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid patronising individuals claiming to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process, reiterating that participation in the UTME and release of results do not in themselves guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
JAMB assured the public that the process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, in keeping with its commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process.