UTME Registration Begins January 26 — JAMB Confirms

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced that registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will open on Monday, January 26, 2026, and run through February 28, 2026 at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria.

JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede made the announcement at a meeting with state Commissioners for Education in Lagos, outlining the key timelines for the UTME and Direct Entry (DE) processes.

Key Dates and Deadlines

UTME e-PIN Sales: January 19 to February 26, 2026 — Candidates are advised to purchase their application documents early to avoid delays.

UTME Registration Window: January 26 to February 28, 2026.

Mock UTME Selection Close: February 16, 2026 — Candidates interested in the optional mock exam must indicate interest before this date.

Direct Entry e-PIN Sales: March 2 to April 25, 2026 — DE candidates can obtain and register application documents during this period.

These dates give prospective candidates a clear framework to plan their registration and preparation activities well ahead of the examinations.

New Monitoring and Eligibility Measures

To enhance the integrity of the registration process, JAMB officials confirmed that all UTME registrations will be monitored live from the Board’s headquarters. Any CBT centre whose activities cannot be viewed in real time risks having its registrations invalidated and may be barred from payment for services.

Also, JAMB is enforcing an age eligibility requirement: candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for admission. Underage candidates may still register, but their results will be released only after special evaluation.

Examination Centres Accredited Nationwide

Ahead of the registration and examination period, JAMB has screened and provisionally listed 924 CBT centres across Nigeria. These centres will undergo final accreditation to ensure they meet operational and security standards before the UTME exercise begins.

Prospective UTME and Direct Entry applicants are encouraged to:

Prepare early: Create a JAMB profile, secure your National Identification Number (NIN), and gather all necessary credentials before registration begins.

Register within timelines: Avoid last-minute rushes that could lead to limited test date choices or technical delays.

Choose mock exam options wisely: The mock UTME offers practice experience and can help candidates assess readiness ahead of the main examination.

As Nigeria’s premier tertiary entrance examination, the UTME remains a crucial step for students seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.