Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has clarified that the "No Result Yet" message displayed to some candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination affects only underage applicants, whose scores have been deliberately withheld pending a mandatory screening process. Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board’s Public Communication Advisor, issued the statement on Tuesday following a surge of inquiries from concerned parents and guardians. According to the board, the notification does not indicate a technical error but reflects the status of candidates who do not yet meet the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
JAMB has reiterated that, in line with its regulations, only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, are eligible to register for and sit the UTME. This age threshold has long been a cornerstone of the board’s admission policy, designed to ensure that candidates possess the requisite maturity for higher education. However, the board has also carved out a narrow exception for academically gifted underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional performance. Such candidates may be considered under a special category, provided they score at least 320 in the UTME and achieve a minimum of 80 per cent in subsequent screening exercises.
The board further disclosed that, based on an agreement reached and endorsed by parents of the affected underage candidates, only those who meet the 320 score benchmark will be shortlisted and invited to proceed to the next stage of assessment. Candidates who successfully sail through the rigorous screening process will then be eligible for consideration under the exceptional candidates provision. For now, JAMB has maintained that the results of underage candidates will remain unreleased until the screening process for exceptional candidates is concluded. The board has urged parents and candidates to remain patient as the process unfolds.
The decision to withhold results of underage candidates has sparked a wave of mixed reactions across the country. Some parents and education stakeholders have applauded the board for enforcing age regulations, arguing that allowing underage candidates into tertiary institutions often leads to social and academic maladjustment. Others, however, have expressed frustration, noting that many underage candidates who sat for the examination performed well and should not be penalised for circumstances beyond their control. JAMB has defended its position, stating that the policy is not intended to punish young candidates but to ensure that only those who are truly exceptional gain early admission, while others are encouraged to wait until they meet the age requirement.
The 2026 UTME, which was conducted on April 20, saw a record number of candidates register for the examination. JAMB has already released the majority of results, with over 1.8 million candidates able to access their scores. The board has also released results for the examinations conducted on Friday and Saturday, with candidates able to check their performance via the board’s portal. However, the "No Result Yet" status for underage candidates has created a cloud of uncertainty for many families, who are now anxiously waiting to see if their children will qualify for the exceptional category.
The exceptional category is not new to JAMB’s admission framework. In previous years, the board has considered underage candidates who demonstrated outstanding academic ability, provided they met the stringent benchmarks. In 2025, JAMB released 85 underage candidates for exceptional admission, following a similar screening process. Those candidates, who scored 320 and above in the UTME, were shortlisted and invited for further assessment, which included written tests and oral interviews. The board has noted that the same process will apply to the 2026 cohort, with only the most exceptional candidates being considered for admission.
Education experts have weighed in on the policy, with some arguing that the 16-year age requirement is necessary to maintain standards and ensure that students are emotionally and psychologically prepared for the rigours of university education. Others have called for a more flexible approach, suggesting that the board should consider allowing underage candidates who score exceptionally high marks to proceed directly to admission without the need for additional screening. JAMB has maintained that the screening process is essential to verify the academic claims of underage candidates and to ensure that they are not simply products of examination malpractice or coaching.
The board has also warned parents and guardians against falsifying the ages of their children to bypass the age requirement. JAMB has access to the National Identity Management Commission database and other government records, and any candidate found to have provided false information will face disqualification and possible prosecution. The board has urged parents to be patient and allow their children to grow and develop before pushing them into the competitive world of higher education.
As the screening process for exceptional underage candidates gets underway, JAMB has assured the public that it will be transparent and fair. The board has called on parents and candidates to cooperate with the process and to avoid spreading false information or engaging in panic. For the thousands of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME, the wait continues. Their dreams of gaining admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions now hang in the balance, dependent on their ability to meet the board’s stringent benchmarks. For the majority who fall short, the message is clear: they must wait until they are older to pursue their academic ambitions. The board has promised to provide further updates as the screening process progresses.
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