The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of candidates who were below the prescribed admission age for viewing.
The board, however, clarified that accessing the results does not automatically qualify any underage candidate for admission into a university, polytechnic, college of education or other tertiary institution.
JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
According to the board, an underage candidate is anyone who will be below 16 years old by September 30, 2026.
JAMB explained that the release of the results was primarily intended to allow candidates, parents and guardians to know how the candidates performed in the 2026 UTME.
The board stressed that the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose unless the candidate qualifies under its exceptional admission process.
For an underage candidate to be considered for exceptional admission, JAMB said the candidate must demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity and pass several stages of assessment and verification.
One of the major requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
Candidates must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment by experts before they can be considered for admission.
JAMB said the rigorous process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply achieved high scores in the UTME.
The board added that the assessment and verification process for exceptional underage candidates is still ongoing.
Candidates who are awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results will also be allowed to present their results for verification before the final assessment.
JAMB said it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without giving such candidates the opportunity to present their NECO results, which had not yet been released.
The board explained that once the NECO results are released, it will announce a date for the final stage of assessment for candidates who performed exceptionally well.
JAMB also warned parents, guardians and candidates to be cautious of individuals who may attempt to exploit the process by promising admission to underage candidates outside the approved procedure.
Candidates who do not meet the requirements were specifically warned against using their viewed UTME results to seek admission through institutions or individuals.
The board reiterated that sitting for the UTME and receiving a result does not guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
JAMB said the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based.
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