Adedokun Waliyu 
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of all underage candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for viewing.
A statement by JAMB’s Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, on Saturday defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.
The Board, however, clarified that the release of the results does not confer admission eligibility on all underage candidates. Admission into tertiary institutions remains subject to conditions stipulated by JAMB and other relevant regulatory requirements.
To check their results, candidates are to send RESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card used to register for the UTME.
According to JAMB, the results have primarily been released to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know how they performed in the examination.
Such results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except for candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
The Board said only exceptionally performing underage candidates who meet the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
“Consequently, candidates who do not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration should not present their viewed results to any institution or individual for the purpose of securing admission,” the statement said.
Requirements for Exceptional Admission
The exceptional admission process is deliberately rigorous and involves multiple stages of assessment to ensure that only candidates who demonstrate the required academic maturity and exceptional ability are considered.
Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside a minimum of 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.
Candidates must also meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts.
JAMB explained that the process is designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who may have simply performed well in the UTME.
The admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates is still ongoing, as all stages of assessment and verification have not been concluded.
The Board noted that it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present and have their results verified.
Since the NECO results are yet to be released, JAMB said it would await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment.
As soon as the NECO results are released, the Board will fix and announce a date for the final assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates.
JAMB stressed that the process is not based solely on UTME performance but involves a comprehensive assessment to ensure that only candidates who genuinely satisfy all prescribed requirements are considered for admission.
The Board urged parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid patronising individuals who claim to have the ability to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process.
JAMB reiterated that participation in the UTME and the release of a candidate’s result do not, by themselves, guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
The Board assured the public that the process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, in line with its commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process.
