More than 2.2 million candidates are sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) nationwide from April 16 to April 22. The examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is being conducted in four daily sessions across approximately 966 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged officials to uphold professionalism, noting that the exam's success hinges on their dedication. He highlighted that issues during the mock exam were largely due to inadequate assessment of centres by some technical staff. Oloyede confirmed the use of biometric verification and real-time monitoring to prevent malpractice, with a zero-tolerance stance on prohibited items. Candidates with unverified biometrics will be rescheduled to designated centres. Incentive packages will be awarded to teams showing exceptional performance in handling materials and submitting reports. Each CBT centre must meet operational standards, including functional computers, stable internet and trained personnel.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

The scale of the 2026 UTME, with over 2.2 million candidates across 966 centres, underscores the continued reliance on JAMB's system as the primary gateway to Nigerian higher education, directly affecting students' admission prospects.

This year's emphasis on biometric verification, real-time monitoring, and operational efficiency reflects ongoing efforts to standardise access in a system where technical glitches and malpractice have previously disrupted outcomes, particularly in remote or under-resourced centres.

Candidates who experience biometric challenges should note they can be rescheduled, so immediate reporting to officials is critical to avoid disqualification.

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