JAMB extends 2025 public university admissions deadline

By Obasola Olatunde

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for the completion of admissions into public universities for the 2025 academic session from October 31 to November 17, 2025.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

According to JAMB, the extension became necessary due to “emergent and compelling circumstances” affecting some institutions’ ability to meet the earlier deadline.

The Board noted that the original timeline approved during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions held on July 18, 2025, and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa was intended to allow private universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions to complete their admissions before the overall closing date of December 31, 2025.

However, JAMB explained that the new extension was based on two key factors.

First, it cited a formal appeal from the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), which requested additional time following disruptions caused by a court order that had temporarily halted the 2025/26 admission list. The order was only lifted on October 28, 2025.

Second, the Board pointed to the recent approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) of 229 new programmes for 37 universities under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Admissions into those newly accredited programmes are still being scheduled.

“In light of these developments, and to ensure fairness and inclusiveness, the Board hereby extends the deadline for the completion of 2025 public university admissions to Monday, 17th November, 2025,” the statement read.

JAMB commended the “zeal, diligence, and commitment” shown by universities in striving to meet the initial timeline but stressed that the new deadline is final and must be strictly adhered to.

The Board reiterated its commitment to ensuring a seamless, transparent, and credible admissions process that aligns with national education goals and institutional autonomy.