The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 UTME results of candidates below the prescribed admission age of 16, but warned that the results do not confer eligibility for admission.
Only exceptionally gifted candidates who score at least 320 and meet other rigorous criteria may be considered.
A Long-Awaited Release
ValidViewNetwork gathered that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of candidates who are below the prescribed minimum admission age of 16 years.
The board, however, said the release of the results is only to enable the candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance and does not confer eligibility for admission.
In a statement issued on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Abuja, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is anyone who will be less than 16 years old by September 30, 2026.
Why the Results Were Withheld
The release follows months of withholding the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME.
When JAMB began releasing the 2026 UTME results in April, candidates below the age threshold who attempted to check their scores received a “No Result Yet” message.
JAMB said the decision was deliberate and in line with its policy that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30 are ordinarily eligible to register for and sit the UTME.
However, JAMB allows a narrow exception for exceptionally brilliant candidates who are below 16 but can demonstrate that they are academically and otherwise ready for tertiary education.
How to Check the Results
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019, using the same telephone number they used to register for the UTME.
The Exceptional Admission Process
JAMB said the exceptional admission process is deliberately rigorous and involves multiple stages of assessment to ensure that only candidates who demonstrate the required academic maturity and exceptional ability are considered.
The requirements for consideration include:
· A minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400
· A minimum of 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable
· Meeting the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions
· Undergoing a final assessment conducted by experts
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Benjamin explained that the process was designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who might have merely performed well in the UTME.
A Daunting Task
Last year, only 85 out of 41,027 underage candidates who sought consideration for admission eventually qualified.
JAMB said more than 38,000 underage candidates registered for the 2026 UTME.
The admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates is still ongoing, as JAMB is awaiting the release of National Examinations Council (NECO) results.
Benjamin stressed that the ongoing process was not merely based on UTME performance but involved a comprehensive assessment to ensure that only candidates who genuinely satisfied all the prescribed requirements were considered for admission.
He warned parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid patronising individuals who claimed to have the capacity to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process.
A Lesson for Nigerian Youths
JAMB’s release of underage results is a reminder that academic excellence alone is not enough, maturity and preparedness matter just as much.
The board has set a high bar for underage candidates: 320 in UTME, 80% in SSCE, and a rigorous assessment process.
Last year, only 85 out of over 41,000 underage candidates made the cut.
For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: excellence is not just about scoring high, it is about being ready for the next stage of life.
The same leaders who push children to rush through education will never allow their own children to be admitted to university unprepared.
Their children are given the time to grow, learn, and mature.Take your time. Build a solid foundation. And never forget that true success is not about how fast you get there, but how well you are prepared for the journey.
