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By Gabriel Dike and Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Commendation and knocks have trailed the decision by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and relevant stakeholders, notably, vice-chancellor, rectors and provosts to endorse 150 as the minimum admissible score for 2026/2027 admission into universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences and 100 as the minimum admissible score for admission into the Polytechnics and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) waver granted candidates seeking admissions into the Colleges of Education (CoE).
The decision was unanimously endorsed at the 2026 Policy Meeting of JAMB attended by Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in Abuja, yesterday.
In 2025/2026 academic session, JAMB and the stakeholders also approved a minimum cut-off mark of 150 for admission into Nigerian universities. Additionally, the minimum score for Colleges of Nursing was 140, while Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and Colleges of Agriculture have a minimum cut-off mark of 100.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who chaired the session, explained that institutions were earlier contacted to send it their minimum admissible score, and confirmed that all institutions, public and private, submitted their individual score.
Through voice vote, the heads of institutions unanimously took the decision of 150 for universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences while 100 was unanimously endorsed as the minimum admissible score for admission into the Polytechnics.
Prof. Oloyede maintained that the decision was not exclusively JAMB’s decision, but a collective decision that was unanimously endorsed by all the relevant stakeholders especially the heads of tertiary institutions.
Reacting shortly after the announcement, President, Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Emmanuel Oji, said the implications of the 150 cut-off mark would signal widespread underperformance but it also acknowledged that a single test cannot fully measure a student’s ability.
According to him, setting it at 150 cut off mark prevents thousands of capable students from being locked out due to one bad day, while putting pressure on the system to fix deeper learning gaps.
“Historically, “not strictly”. Many schools use Post-UTME to set their own higher benchmarks anyway. The cut-off is more of a floor than a rule. That said, we should appeal to institutions to respect it this year because the inconsistency creates financial and emotional strain for parents and students who can’t keep paying for multiple screenings,’’ he noted.
On whether with the cut off, the system is lowering standard, he argued that only if we measure standard by exam scores alone, adding, in Nigeria’s current context, “standard” has to be relative.
He said: “If the system isn’t producing leaders and problem-solvers, then clinging to a higher cut-off on a flawed exam isn’t rigour – it’s gatekeeping. I’ve argued and still believe we need to reengineer education to fit our local needs. That means mixing assessment methods, not just raising a number.”
An educationist, Chief Adekunle Ogunlade, said even with the low cut off mark, millions of candidates would still not secure admission into some federal universities and also private institutions.
“Many parents and candidates will be happy with the 150 cut off mark. But when the universities start Post-UTME screening, they will fix their mark to 200 and many below the mark will not be able to apply,’’ he argued.
Adeola Soetan of the Citizenship Civic Awareness Centre described the decision as an indictment on JAMB.
“What JAMB is trying to do is encourage mass failure by indirectly encouraging candidates to target 150, which is the minimum admissible score.”
He disagreed with the decision and called for a review to encourage academic excellence and discourage academic laziness, which he described as dangerous to the nation.
Similarly, Alex Onyia of Educare lambasted the decision, describing it as a continued effort by policymakers to lower the standard of education in Nigeria.
“I also read that the government has waived UTME requirements for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education, with the excuse of encouraging more candidates to enrol in the colleges.
“That is the wrong way to achieve that objective. The decision will simply encourage a significant drop in the quality of education, especially in the Colleges of Education.
“What the government ought to do is support the colleges and students with incentives. Graduates should also be offered jobs with good pay and other incentives to attract the best hands. That is a better approach than significantly lowering standards to attract students.”
A parent, Abdullahi Zailani, based in Abuja, commended the decision, stressing that it favours the northern part of Nigeria where, according to him, students are not performing as well as their counterparts in the South.
“I saw the criticisms online and offline. The critics perhaps do not understand the reason behind the decision. Many of them are attacking and accusing JAMB of lowering standards with the lower cut-off points for admission into tertiary institutions.
“The decision was not taken by JAMB alone. Rather, it was unanimously endorsed by vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and other stakeholders at the 2026 Policy Meeting. It was not solely JAMB’s decision, but that of stakeholders who understand the education sector better.”
Another parent, Kingsley Enem, frowned at the decision by JAMB and other stakeholders to approve 150 and 100 as the minimum admissible scores for admission into universities and polytechnics respectively.
“That is very poor. A benchmark of 200, which represents 50 per cent, would have been better. This simply encourages academic laziness. Many candidates will now target low scores instead of working hard for better performance in the UTME.
“However, I learnt that the score is not binding on all institutions, meaning that individual institutions are at liberty to determine their own cut-off marks, provided they do not go below the approved minimum admissible score,” he said.
LASU, UNILAG, OAU lead
JAMB has disclosed that Lagos State University (LASU) emerged as the most subscribed institution with 84,426 applications.
Data obtained from JAMB indicated that the University of Lagos (UNILAG) followed closely with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, recorded 60,370 applications.
The University of Ibadan received 58,425 applications, while the University of Benin recorded 55,425 applications.
Others among the top 10 most subscribed universities are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with 54,085 applications; the University of Ilorin with 52,514 applications; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with 51,660 applications; the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, with 48,272 applications; and the University of Port Harcourt with 48,199 applications.
Among the polytechnics, Kaduna Polytechnic topped with 7,630 applications.
It was followed by the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, with 5,306 applications; Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, with 4,817 applications; Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), with 4,574 applications; and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, with 3,425 applications.
Similarly, Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kaduna State, led the Colleges of Education category with 882 applications. It was followed by Yusuf Bala Usman College of Education and Legal Studies, Daura, Katsina State, with 691 applications, and Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano State, with 663 applications.
Prof. Oloyede observed that some institutions that had previously recorded low admission figures had now moved up the ranking.
He attributed the development partly to the recent resolution of issues surrounding the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes, which had often disrupted academic activities in some institutions.
He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, for the industrial peace and harmony that had returned to universities following the recent agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government.
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Ekiti girl emerges top scorer
On candidates performance in the 2026 UTME results, Oloyede said Jesudunsin Owoeye from Ekiti State, who sat for the examination in Ogun State, emerged the highest scorer with 372 out of the 400 marks.
He said that Owoeye chose the University of Lagos as her first choice to study Medicine and Surgery.
The score is three points lower than 2025 year’s top score of 375, recorded by Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State.
Also, Ikenna Enwere from Imo State came second with a score of 370.
Enwere, who wrote the examination in Lagos State, selected Nile University as his first choice to study Computer Science.
In third place is Ayomide Bamisile from Ondo State with 369.
Five candidates, namely, Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin, Victor-Onyeka Danlel lfeanyi, Osaglobare Danlel Osahenrumwen, Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony, and Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony, scored 368, respectively, and were at the 4th position.
Similarly, four candidates, namely, Offorkile Michael Okechukwu, Adebisi Enlola Sonari, Umukoro Gift Oghenevovwero and Ononuju Chidumebi Emmanuel, scored 367 and were at fifth position.
He listed the Federal University of Technology, Akure as his first choice to study Software Engineering.
Personal computers
JAMB has said it would begin an option of “Bring Your Own Device” for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 2027.
Oloyede said candidates would be allowed to use their personal devices for the examination, but a flash drive would be inserted to prevent malpractice.
He explained that the option would be cheaper and easier to manage and would also address complaints from candidates who often report that their computer went off during the examination.
According to him, this measure was designed to make the process more convenient while maintaining the integrity of the test.
He, however, added that other innovations would also be introduced by 2027 for seamless examination.
Waiver for NCE
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with minimum of four credits from sitting for UTME
followed consultations with stakeholders aimed at expanding access to teacher education and strengthening enrollment in Colleges of Education (CoE) nationwide.
He explained that eligible candidates would, however, be required to register with JAMB for proper screening, verification and issuance of admission letters through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
According to him, the exemption is part of deliberate reforms to harness the admission capacity of colleges of education, particularly within local communities.
“In recognition of this reality, the Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, has taken a deliberate policy position.
“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
The minister added that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
He said the measure was designed to ease pressure associated with UTME, while encouraging participation in critical sectors essential to national development.
He reiterated that admissions conducted outside CAPS remained illegal and would not be recognised by government.
He also warned that institutions violating established admission procedures risked sanctions, including suspension of operating licences where applicable.
Alausa reaffirmed government’s position on 16 years as the minimum admission age into tertiary institutions, noting that the decision aimed at maintaining inclusivity and academic readiness.
He noted that the federal government was implementing wide-ranging reforms in the education sector focused on access, quality, governance and accountability.
He commended JAMB for deploying technology-driven solutions that enhanced fairness and credibility in the admissions process.
He added that efforts were ongoing to deepen inclusion for Persons living With Disabilities through application fee waivers and targeted support initiatives.
“This initiative is not only humane but also a powerful affirmation of our national commitment to equity and equal opportunity.
“The increasing participation of candidates with disabilities in our examinations and admissions processes is clear evidence that when barriers are removed, potential is unleashed,” Alausa said.
The minister further disclosed that government was advancing digital transformation in education through expanded computer-based testing and integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into curricula.
He said the federal government had equally achieved progress in stabilising the university system, following successful renegotiation of agreements aimed at ensuring uninterrupted academic calendars.
Alausa reaffirmed government’s commitment to combating examination malpractice through strengthened verification systems and enhanced collaboration among relevant agencies.
He urged stakeholders to uphold integrity and fairness in admissions decisions, noting that outcomes of the policy meeting would affect millions of Nigerian youths seeking tertiary education opportunities.
