The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that the release of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results does not automatically make underage candidates eligible for admission.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

Benjamin explained that a candidate would be regarded as underage for the 2026 admission exercise if he or she would be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.

According to him, the results of underage candidates were released primarily to enable them and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination.

He stressed, however, that such results could not be used for admission or any other official purpose except by candidates who satisfied JAMB’s stringent requirements for exceptional consideration.

JAMB stated that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who meet all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.

One of the key requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, in addition to at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.

“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” Benjamin said.

He explained that the exceptional admission process involved multiple stages of assessment and verification designed to distinguish candidates with genuine academic maturity and exceptional ability from those who merely performed well in the UTME.

Benjamin noted that the assessment process was still ongoing, stressing that all stages had not yet been concluded.

He said JAMB would also allow candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present them for verification before the final stage of the process.

“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the Board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he stated.

He added that once the NECO results were released, JAMB would announce a date for the final assessment of the exceptionally performing underage candidates.

The JAMB spokesperson urged candidates and parents who did not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration not to present their UTME results to institutions or individuals for the purpose of securing admission.

He also warned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals claiming to have the ability to obtain admission for underage candidates outside the official process.

Meanwhile, candidates can check their 2026 UTME results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the examination.

Benjamin reiterated that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result did not, by themselves, guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who had not attained the prescribed admission age.

He assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, stressing JAMB’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process and ensuring that only candidates who satisfied all established requirements were admitted.