The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has begun notifying underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), inviting them to proceed to the next stage of admission screening at their chosen institutions.
JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, following growing public enquiries about the status of the affected candidates.
“The Board has sent messages to underage candidates who scored 320 and above. They will be invited to the next level of assessment by their institution of choice,” Benjamin said.
According to the board, successful candidates have had their details forwarded to their preferred institutions for further evaluation and admission processing. In one of the official messages sent to candidates, JAMB explained that those who met the benchmark had crossed the required threshold for exceptional consideration.
“JAMB hereby notifies you that you have crossed the 80% threshold in the UTME, which is one of the four categories for consideration.
“Your details have been forwarded to your institution of choice, which will contact you for screening and return the result to the Board. You can contact your chosen institution regarding this. Kindly ensure that you upload your O-level results to the JAMB portal,” the message read.
The development is part of JAMB’s special policy for exceptionally gifted underage candidates who fall below the minimum admission age of 16 years but demonstrate outstanding academic performance.
The board had earlier withheld the results of underage candidates, displaying “No Result Yet” notifications pending the conclusion of its assessment process.
Benjamin had previously clarified that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, are eligible for UTME participation, except those considered under the exceptional talent policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Under the policy, underage candidates must score at least 320 in the UTME and achieve a minimum of 80 per cent in subsequent screening stages to qualify for admission consideration.
He added that, based on prior agreements with parents and stakeholders, only candidates who meet the required benchmark are shortlisted for further evaluation, as part of efforts to maintain strict academic standards.
Benjamin also urged candidates and the public to remain patient, noting that the results of underage candidates will only be released after the completion of all screening processes.
The policy, endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at ensuring that students admitted into tertiary institutions possess the required academic and emotional maturity to cope with higher education demands while preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s admission system.