• No fewer than 2.2 million candidates are participating in the 2026 UTME nationwide which began on April 16 and will run until April 22
• JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede urged officials to be professional and committed as the success of the examination depends largely on their performance
• JAMB commended staff and service providers for their roles during the mock examination and promise incentives to teams that perform exceptionally well

More than 2.2 million candidates are expected to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which began across Nigeria on Thursday, April 16.

The examination, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is scheduled to run from April 16 to April 22 at accredited centres nationwide.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, called on examination officials to uphold professionalism and remain committed throughout the exercise, stressing that the success of the examination largely depends on their performance.

Oloyede gave the charge during a virtual briefing with technical officers ahead of the nationwide examination.

He praised staff members and service providers for their efforts during the mock examination but pointed out that many of the challenges encountered were caused by poor centre assessment.

The registrar also disclosed that incentive packages would be given to teams that perform exceptionally well, especially in the timely handling of examination materials and prompt submission of reports.

He restated the board’s strict position against examination malpractice and warned candidates not to bring prohibited items into examination halls.

According to him, biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been introduced to protect the integrity of the examination process.

Oloyede added that candidates whose biometric details fail verification would be rescheduled to sit the examination at designated centres.

The UTME remains one of Nigeria’s biggest coordinated examinations, requiring large-scale logistics and personnel across the country.

To reduce congestion at Computer-Based Test centres and improve verification processes, each day’s examination has been divided into four sessions.

About 966 centres are taking part in the 2026 exercise, with each centre expected to meet operational requirements such as functional computer systems, stable internet connectivity, and trained personnel.

A NAN correspondent who monitored activities at a centre in Jahi, Abuja, reported that the first session, fixed for 8:30 a.m., began at about 8:40 a.m.

JAMB adjusts arrival time for 2026 UTME first session candidates

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had announced a minor adjustment to the arrival time for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly those scheduled for the first session.

The examination body stated that candidates for the first session are now required to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the earlier scheduled 6:30 a.m.

According to JAMB, the examination will commence at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m., maintaining the same duration despite the revised arrival time.

The board said the adjustment followed concerns over early travel risks and logistical challenges faced by candidates and parents.