JAMB dismisses rumours, Says UTME still mandatory for admission into Nigerian varsities
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has refuted reports claiming that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is no longer a requirement for gaining admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday by JAMB’s Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Board described the publication as “malicious and preposterous,” insisting that the Minister of Education, Dr Mauruf Alausa, never made any such pronouncement.
Dr Benjamin urged the general public to disregard the misleading report, which was published by news medium (not Nigerian NewsDirect) on October 16, 2025, and assured that JAMB would continue to carry out its statutory responsibilities as mandated by law.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to fallacious information published by Phonix.browser.com on 16th October 2025, stating that ‘JAMB is no longer a prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.’
“We wish to categorically state that the information is malicious and preposterous, as the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Mauruf Alausa, has at no point made such a pronouncement.”
Clarifying further, JAMB explained that the misinterpreted statement titled ‘Renewed Hope in Action: Federal Government Streamlines Admission Requirements to Expand Access to Tertiary Education’ merely referenced ongoing government efforts to widen access to higher education, not to abolish JAMB’s admission role.
The Board maintained that it remains the legally recognised body responsible for coordinating admissions into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions through the UTME, and that no changes have been made to that process.
Dr Benjamin reiterated: “We therefore call on the general public to disregard the unfounded information and take note that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shall continue to discharge its statutory duties in line with its enabling laws.”