…To Allow Candidates Use Personal Computers For UTME From 2027
THE JOINT Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adopted 150 as the minimum admissible score for universities and colleges of nursing in the 2026 admission exercise. The board also placed the cut-off mark for polytechnics and monotechnics at 100.
The decision was reached at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the board on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who chaired the meeting, said the cut-off marks represented the minimum requirement for admission and must be strictly followed, stressing that candidates must meet the set standard.
In addition, stakeholders at the meeting fixed deadlines for the completion of the 2026 admission exercise across tertiary institutions in the country.
They unanimously agreed that public universities should conclude admissions on or before Oct. 31, 2026, while private universities are expected to complete admissions by Nov. 30, 2026.
Also, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education were advised to complete their admission processes by Dec. 31, 2026.
Also speaking, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, directed all institutions to carry out their admission exercises strictly within the approved timelines.
Oloyede warned that once the deadline for each category expires, any institution that failed to conclude its admission exrcise would no longer have access to candidates for that session.
He also approved that successful candidates must accept their admission offers within four weeks, noting that failure to accept admission within the stipulated period would lead to withdrawal of such offers.
He noted that affected candidates may become ineligible for further admission consideration in that session.
The registrar added that the policy was aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency and timely completion of admissions across all tertiary institutions in the country. (NAN)
Meanwhile, JAMB says it will begin an option of “Bring Your Own Device” for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 2027.
Prof. Oloyede, disclosed this during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions on Monday in Abuja.
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.
Speaking on candidates’ performance in the 2026 UTME results, Oloyede said that 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 370 score. 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. He listed the Federal University of Technology, Akure as his first choice to study Software Engineering. (NAN)
