No fewer than 2.2 million candidates are set to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which commenced nationwide on Thursday across accredited centres.
The examination, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 at approved Computer-Based Test centres across the country.
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to uphold professionalism and dedication, stressing that the success of the exercise depends largely on their conduct.
He gave the charge during a virtual briefing with technical officers ahead of the examination.
Oloyede commended staff and service providers for their roles during the mock examination but noted that most of the issues encountered were linked to inadequate assessment of some centres.
He disclosed that incentive packages would be introduced for teams demonstrating exceptional performance, particularly in the timely handling of examination materials and prompt submission of reports.
Reaffirming the board’s zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice, the registrar warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He noted that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to safeguard the integrity of the process.
Candidates whose biometric details cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to sit the examination at designated centres.
The UTME remains one of Nigeria’s largest coordinated examinations, requiring extensive logistics and personnel deployment nationwide.
Each day’s examination is split into four sessions to reduce congestion at centres and enhance verification procedures.
A total of 966 centres are participating in the 2026 exercise, with each required to meet operational standards, including functional systems, stable connectivity, and trained personnel.
About The Author
