Over 2 Million Students Begin 2026 UTME Across Nigeria

Approximately 2.2 million students are participating in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which kicked off across the country this Thursday.

Organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the testing period spans from April 16 to April 22 at approved sites.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, addressed technical officers in a virtual meeting, emphasizing that the integrity of the process rests on their professional conduct. While he praised the execution of recent mock exams, he noted that previous technical hurdles stemmed from insufficient facility evaluations.

To promote excellence, the board plans to offer rewards to teams that manage materials efficiently and submit documentation promptly.

Oloyede also reaffirmed a strict policy against exam fraud, cautioning students against carrying banned materials into testing rooms. New biometric and live-monitoring technology are being utilized to maintain high standards, with provisions to reschedule candidates who encounter biometric verification issues.

The examination is supported by 966 accredited Computer-Based Test centers nationwide, each vetted for reliable connectivity and equipment. To manage traffic, testing is split into four daily sessions. Observers at a Jahi, Abuja location reported that testing began shortly after the 8:30 am start time.