The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of candidates who were below the prescribed admission age, allowing them to view their scores while warning that the results do not automatically qualify them for admission.
JAMB, through its Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, announced the development on Saturday.
The board defines an underage candidate as an applicant who will be below 16 years old by September 30, 2026.
JAMB said the release was mainly intended to enable the candidates, their parents and guardians to know how they performed in the UTME.
It stressed, however, that the results could not be used for admission or any other official purpose except by candidates who meet the requirements for exceptional admission.
Under the exceptional admission process, only candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic ability and maturity can be considered.
JAMB said such candidates must score at least 320 in the UTME and obtain a minimum of 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
They must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment by experts before admission can be considered.
According to the board, the stringent process is designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who simply performed well in the UTME.
The admission process is still ongoing, with some stages of assessment and verification yet to be completed.
JAMB also said candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results would be allowed to submit them for verification before the final assessment.
The board said it would be unreasonable to conclude the exercise without giving candidates awaiting their NECO results an opportunity to present the results once released.
“As soon as the NECO results are released, the Board will fix and announce a date for the final stage of the assessment of the exceptionally performing underage candidates,” JAMB said.
The development means underage candidates who have viewed their UTME scores should not regard the results as admission offers.
JAMB warned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals who may attempt to exploit the process by promising admission outside the approved procedure.
The board also cautioned candidates who do not meet the exceptional-admission requirements against presenting their UTME results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.
JAMB 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.
The examination body said the exceptional admission exercise would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based as it completes the outstanding stages of assessment and verification.
