The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has made the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of underage candidates available for viewing.
JAMB, however, stressed that access to the results does not mean the affected candidates are automatically eligible for admission into tertiary institutions.
The board said the results were released primarily to allow the candidates, their parents and guardians to see how they performed in the examination.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate as an applicant who will not have reached the age of 16 by September 30, 2026.
According to the board, the released results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless a candidate successfully meets the requirements for exceptional admission.
Strict requirements for exceptional candidates
JAMB said underage candidates seeking admission on exceptional grounds must go through a rigorous assessment process designed to identify applicants with outstanding academic ability and sufficient maturity.
Candidates must score at least 320 in the UTME and, where applicable, obtain a minimum of 80 per cent in relevant subjects in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
They must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their preferred institutions and undergo further assessment by experts before they can be considered for admission.
The board explained that the multi-stage process was intended to distinguish genuinely exceptional candidates from those who merely recorded high scores in the UTME.
Assessment process not yet complete
JAMB said the admission screening process for exceptionally performing underage candidates was still ongoing and that some stages of assessment and verification had yet to be concluded.
Candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results will also be given an opportunity to submit them for verification before the final stage of the exercise.
The board said it would be unfair to conclude the process before candidates awaiting their NECO results had the opportunity to present their credentials.
Once the results are released and verified, JAMB said it would announce the date for the final assessment of candidates seeking exceptional admission.
Warning against admission racketeering
The examination body also warned parents, guardians and candidates to be cautious of individuals or groups promising to secure admission for underage applicants outside the approved process.
JAMB said candidates who do not meet the exceptional admission requirements should not present their UTME results to institutions or other individuals in an attempt to gain admission.
The board reiterated that taking the UTME and receiving a result does not automatically guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed age.
JAMB maintained that the exceptional admission process would remain strictly based on merit, transparency and a thorough assessment of each candidate’s academic ability and readiness for tertiary education.
