The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
However, the Board has made it clear that the release does not automatically qualify any candidate for admission into tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, defined an underage candidate as anyone who will be below 16 years old as of 30 September 2026.
He explained that the results were released primarily so that candidates, parents and guardians could see how they performed. The scores cannot be used for admission or any official purpose except by those who meet JAMB’s special conditions for exceptional consideration.
Candidates can check their results by sending the word “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card registered for the examination.
Benjamin reiterated that only exceptionally brilliant underage candidates who satisfy all set requirements will be considered. These include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects (where applicable), success in the institution’s Post-UTME, and a final expert assessment of academic ability and maturity.
“The process is rigorous and multi-stage. It is designed to identify genuinely exceptional candidates, not just those with high UTME scores,” he said.
The assessment remains incomplete. JAMB is waiting for the release of the National Examinations Council (NECO) results before moving to the final stage, as candidates awaiting those results must be allowed to present them for verification. Once the NECO results are out, the Board will announce the date for the final assessment.
Benjamin strongly warned candidates, parents and the public against presenting the results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission outside the official process. He also cautioned against anyone claiming they can arrange underage admission.
“Sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result does not guarantee admission, especially for candidates who have not reached the required age,” he stressed.
JAMB assured the public that the exceptional admission process will remain transparent, strict and strictly merit-based, aimed at protecting the integrity of the national admission system.
