The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the notification process for underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), directing them to proceed to the next phase of evaluation at their chosen institutions.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the development on Sunday, April 26, while responding to public inquiries.
“The Board has sent messages to underage candidates who scored 320 and above. They will be invited to the next level of assessment by their institution of choice,” he stated.
In one of the messages sent to a candidate and confirmed by Benjamin, JAMB indicated that the applicant had met the required threshold for further consideration and that their details had been forwarded to the selected institution for screening.
The message read, “JAMB hereby notifies you that you have crossed the 80% threshold in the UTME, which is one of the four categories for consideration.
“As a result, your details have been forwarded to your institution of choice, which will contact you for screening and return the result to the Board. You can contact your chosen institution regarding this. Kindly ensure that you upload your O-level results to the JAMB portal.”
The development forms part of JAMB’s special policy for exceptionally gifted candidates who are below the minimum admission age of 16 years.
READ ALSO: JAMB Releases Over 1.2 Million UTME Results For April 17–18 Candidates
Earlier, the Board had withheld the results of such underage candidates, displaying “No Result Yet” notifications for affected applicants.
Benjamin had previously explained that only candidates who would be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, qualify for UTME participation, noting that exceptions are strictly handled under the board’s special consideration framework.
Under the policy, underage candidates must demonstrate exceptional performance by scoring at least 320 in the UTME and achieving a minimum of 80 per cent in subsequent screening exercises to remain eligible for admission consideration.
He further clarified that, based on prior arrangements with parents, only those who meet the 320-score benchmark will be shortlisted for further evaluation, significantly narrowing eligibility for exceptional admission.
Benjamin maintained that the results of underage candidates would remain on hold until the screening process is completed, urging stakeholders to remain patient as the Board continues to enforce standards aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the admission process.
The policy, approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to ensure that admitted students possess the required academic and emotional maturity for tertiary education.