Monday, June 15, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

Declare status or forfeit UTME registration – JAMB to candidates

JAMB candidates

Candidates currently enrolled in tertiary institutions have been instructed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to disclose their matriculation status as a prerequisite for the registration of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry.

Speaking in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced that candidates must reveal their matriculation status as failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of both admissions.

According to Benjamin, some “self-styled education advocates” had misrepresented the Board’s directives, causing confusion among candidates and parents.

“The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has been drawn to a misleading and unfortunate distortion of a portion of the Board’s clear directives to candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE, as contained in the 2026 UTME/DE advertisement.

“This deliberate misrepresentation is being propagated by some unscrupulous self-styled education advocates for parochial interests.

“Many of them do not take the time to read or properly understand the guidelines, yet hastily rush to the public space with false narratives aimed solely at attracting traffic to their social media platforms.

“For the avoidance of doubt and for record purposes, and in line with its statutory mandate to prevent multiple matriculations, the Board directed that all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE must disclose their matriculation status, where applicable.

“It is not an offence for a candidate to register for the UTME/DE while still enrolled in an institution. However, failure to disclose such status constitutes an offence.

“Disclosure simply means that once a candidate secures admission through the latest registration, the former admission automatically ceases to subsist. The law is explicit that no candidate is permitted to hold two admissions concurrently.

“Mandatory disclosure, therefore, expedites appropriate action whenever such candidates are apprehended.

“The Board therefore urges the public to be cautious of these so-called education advocates who are perpetually eager to mislead candidates and parents for selfish gain.

“Members of the public are advised to carefully read official guidelines and avoid accepting distorted interpretations wholesale,” he said.