Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027, in a move that will allow Nigerians resident in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the examination without travelling to Nigeria solely for that purpose. The development was disclosed by the board on its official social media platforms following a visit by its Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, where discussions centred on expanding access to the UTME for Nigerians in the diaspora and strengthening the connection between Nigerians abroad and the Nigerian education system.
JAMB said the proposed centre would make it easier for Nigerians in the diaspora to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination, describing the initiative as part of its efforts towards taking Nigerian tertiary education to the world. “For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home,” the board said. The board added that it was working towards establishing a UTME examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, expected to commence operations in 2027. According to JAMB, the centre would provide eligible Nigerians in Canada and across North America with easier access to the examination, particularly those seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
The board said the initiative would create greater opportunities to showcase Nigerian tertiary education internationally while reducing the financial and logistical burden associated with travelling to Nigeria for the examination. It also said the centre would strengthen the connection between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigerian tertiary education, providing more access and removing barriers for Nigerians abroad who wish to pursue tertiary education in Nigeria. The proposed Ottawa centre is expected to serve Nigerians resident in Canada and other parts of North America, expanding JAMB’s examination access beyond Nigeria for the first time in its history.
The decision to establish a UTME centre in Canada reflects a broader effort by JAMB to adapt its operations to the needs of a globalised Nigerian population. For decades, Nigerians in the diaspora who sought admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions had no option but to return home to sit for the UTME, a requirement that imposed significant financial costs, travel logistics and time constraints on candidates and their families. The new centre is intended to address these challenges by bringing the examination closer to the candidates, allowing them to sit for the UTME in the country where they reside and to pursue admission into Nigerian universities without the disruption of international travel.
The announcement comes amid ongoing reforms at JAMB aimed at modernising the examination process and expanding its reach. The board has in recent years introduced computer-based testing across its centres, tightened measures against examination malpractice and improved the efficiency of result processing and admission procedures. The establishment of a centre in Canada represents a natural extension of these reforms, leveraging technology and international partnerships to serve Nigerians who live outside the country while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the UTME as the primary gateway to tertiary education in Nigeria.
For Nigerians in Canada, the initiative has been welcomed as a practical solution to a longstanding problem. Many families in the diaspora have children who are eligible for admission into Nigerian universities but who face the daunting prospect of travelling to Nigeria during the UTME period, often at considerable expense and with uncertain travel arrangements. The Ottawa centre would allow these candidates to sit for the examination in a familiar environment, reducing the stress and cost associated with international travel and enabling them to focus on their preparation and performance. The move is also expected to strengthen ties between Nigerians in the diaspora and the Nigerian education system, encouraging more families to consider Nigerian universities as a viable option for their children’s tertiary education.
The Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa played a central role in facilitating the discussions, underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement in advancing educational cooperation. The High Commission’s involvement reflects a recognition that the Nigerian diaspora is a significant constituency whose needs must be addressed by national institutions, including those responsible for education. The partnership between JAMB and the High Commission is expected to provide the logistical and administrative support required to establish and operate the centre, including the identification of suitable premises, the deployment of examination equipment and the coordination of candidate registration and examination schedules.
The establishment of the Ottawa centre also raises questions about the broader strategy for expanding UTME access to other regions with significant Nigerian populations. JAMB has not announced plans for similar centres in other countries, but the Canada initiative is likely to serve as a pilot that could be replicated in other jurisdictions if successful. The board’s emphasis on taking Nigerian tertiary education to the world suggests a vision of a more globally integrated examination system, one that recognises the reality of a Nigerian population that is increasingly mobile and dispersed across continents.
The political context of the announcement is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, and education has emerged as a central issue in the campaign. President Bola Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers. The Tinubu administration has prioritised education reform, including the expansion of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund and the establishment of new tertiary institutions, and the JAMB initiative adds to that record by demonstrating the government’s commitment to serving Nigerians wherever they may be.
The establishment of a UTME centre in Ottawa will require significant planning and investment, including the procurement of computer hardware and software, the training of examination personnel and the development of secure systems for the transmission and processing of examination results. JAMB has substantial experience in managing computer-based testing at scale, having conducted millions of UTME sessions across Nigeria, and the board is expected to apply that expertise to the Canadian centre. The cooperation of Canadian authorities will also be essential to ensure that the centre complies with local regulations and operates in a manner consistent with Canadian law. The coming months will determine whether the logistical and regulatory challenges can be overcome in time for the 2027 UTME cycle, and whether the centre fulfils its promise of bringing the UTME closer to Nigerians in Canada and across North America.
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