UTME 2026 kicks off nationwide with 2.2m candidates

The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination got underway on Thursday across Nigeria, with over 2.2 million candidates sitting the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board test at 966 accredited computer-based centres in a seven-day exercise scheduled to run until April 22.

At the Rosa Mystica Academy CBT centre in Byazhin, Kubwa, within the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, proceedings were orderly and incident-free during the morning session. Biometric verification officer Peter Idu told journalists that 236 of the 250 candidates scheduled for the 8:30 a.m. session presented themselves and were successfully screened.

“The biometric session for this morning’s exam went well. There was no issue,” Idu said.

Centre supervisor Adeosun Olawola confirmed that the examination started on schedule, with candidate checks beginning as early as 6:30 a.m.

“Everything is in order. The candidates also tried to arrive on time. The exam started at 8:30 a.m. on the dot,” he said.

Olawola credited early sensitisation and strict entry screening for the absence of misconduct, adding that candidates voluntarily surrendered all prohibited devices before entering the hall. He also confirmed that all technical systems — including computers and cooling equipment — were functioning optimally, following a full trial run conducted at the centre the previous day.

JAMB structured the examination in multiple daily sessions to manage the large candidate population and reduce congestion across centres. Ahead of the exercise, the board conducted a mock UTME to assess system and personnel readiness, after which 23 CBT centres were delisted for failing to meet required standards and 11 technical officials were removed for poor performance.

Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, speaking at a virtual briefing ahead of the examination, charged officials to demonstrate diligence, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their commitment.

To enhance convenience, JAMB adjusted the candidate arrival time for the first session from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., while retaining the 8:30 a.m. start time to allow thorough pre-examination procedures. The board also deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to curb malpractice, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on examination infractions.

The examination continues nationwide over the coming days as JAMB monitors operations across all accredited centres.