The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 420,674 candidates have registered for the 2025/2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) within the first four days of the registration exercise.
The board also disclosed that 124,632 candidates have registered for the mock UTME, while 331 candidates have opted for trial testing.
JAMB Registrar, Emeritus Professor Is-haq Oloyede, made this known during an unscheduled visit to some CBT centres in Ilorin, Kwara State. He reiterated that the board is targeting two million candidates before the registration closes next month.
Oloyede revealed that JAMB has paid N141.3 million to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for services rendered within the first four days of the UTME/DE registration process. He added that the total amount disbursed to these centres will increase as the exercise progresses.
The JAMB registrar also expressed concerns over the increasing number of underaged candidates, revealing that 4,997 candidates below the age of 16 had already registered for the exams.
“You can see how we’re deceiving ourselves in this country,” Oloyede said. “Before now, the number of underaged candidates was around 300, but in just four days, we already have nearly 5,000.”
He added that all underaged candidates are required to sign an indemnity form, committing to meeting academic expectations or facing penalties.
Meanwhile, JAMB has permanently blacklisted six staff members of CBT centres for engaging in blank registration, a fraudulent practice linked to exam malpractice.
“We have put them on our blacklist in JAMB. They will never participate in JAMB activities again, even if they later become a lecturer or Vice Chancellor,” Oloyede warned.
Previously, JAMB would sanction entire centres, but the board now focuses on identifying and penalizing individuals directly involved in malpractice.
The registrar also revealed that 10 institutions had been caught registering candidates at night, which is against JAMB’s regulations.
Oloyede cautioned CBT centres against storing candidates’ personal data, especially mobile numbers, stating that such actions violate data privacy laws.
He also dismissed speculation about an alleged onslaught against JAMB by the National Assembly, emphasizing that the board remains committed to transparency and education funding.
Despite the challenges, Oloyede expressed satisfaction with the first four days of the registration process.
“Going around, I’m very proud of those on the field, CBT centres, my staff, and everyone involved,” he said. “It’s better by far this year. People know we won’t accept anything less than standard, and they’ve done very well.”
He also appreciated security agencies for their support in ensuring a seamless registration process.
