JAMB Releases Underage UTME Results, Says Exceptional Admission Process Still Ongoing
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of all underage candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), clarifying that the results are strictly for viewing and do not automatically qualify candidates for admission into tertiary institutions.
The Board explained that, for the 2026 admission exercise, an underage candidate is any applicant who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
In a statement issued on Sunday by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board said the release of the results was in line with its established policy on underage participation in the UTME and was intended to allow candidates and their parents or guardians assess their performance.
Candidates can check their results by sending RESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the same telephone number used during UTME registration.
JAMB, however, stressed that the results cannot be used to secure admission or for any other official purpose except for candidates who qualify under its exceptional admission policy.
The Board reiterated that admission for underage candidates remains reserved for only those who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and satisfy all prescribed conditions.
It noted that the exceptional admission process is deliberately rigorous and involves several stages of screening and verification designed to identify candidates with outstanding academic maturity.
According to the Board, eligible candidates must obtain a minimum UTME score of 320, record at least 80 per cent in the relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and successfully complete a final assessment conducted by experts.
JAMB explained that the process is intended to distinguish genuinely exceptional candidates from those who merely performed well in the UTME.
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