By Adesakin Adefemi
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination commenced across Nigeria on Thursday, with more than 2.2 million candidates expected to write the test at accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
The examination, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, will run for seven days from April 16 to April 22, 2026. To manage the large turnout, each examination day has been structured into four sessions, a move designed to reduce congestion at CBT centres and give adequate time for biometric verification and candidate screening.
Ahead of the exercise, JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede addressed examination officials during a virtual final briefing for technical officers held on Wednesday. He charged all officials, including centre administrators, invigilators, and technical staff, to demonstrate maximum commitment and professionalism throughout the examination period.
Oloyede emphasized that the overall success of the UTME depends largely on the performance and dedication of examination officials on the ground. He commended staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their contributions to the successful conduct of the mock examination held earlier in April.
He noted that most of the challenges recorded during the mock exercise were linked to inadequate assessment of centres by some technical officials.
To address this, the board has reinforced its pre-examination protocols and issued fresh guidelines to all participating centres. He added that incentive packages will be provided for teams that demonstrate exceptional performance, including prompt handling of examination materials and timely submission of reports.
The registrar restated JAMB’s zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice. He warned candidates against attempting to smuggle prohibited items such as mobile phones, smart watches, and electronic devices into examination halls.
He said any candidate caught violating the rules will face sanctions as stipulated by the board, including possible cancellation of results.
To safeguard the credibility of the 2026 UTME, JAMB has deployed advanced technology across all centres. This includes enhanced biometric verification systems to authenticate candidates and real-time monitoring tools that allow the board’s headquarters to observe activities at centres nationwide.
Oloyede disclosed that candidates whose biometric details cannot be verified on their scheduled date will be rescheduled to sit the examination at designated centres approved by the board.
About 966 CBT centres are participating in this year’s UTME. Each centre was screened and accredited based on operational standards set by JAMB, including functional computer systems, stable power and internet connectivity, adequate seating arrangements, and trained personnel.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the UTME remains one of Nigeria’s largest coordinated educational exercises, involving extensive logistics, technology deployment, and thousands of personnel across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
A NAN correspondent who monitored one of the centres at Aduvie International School, Jahi, Abuja, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday started at about 8:40 a.m.
Candidates were screened at the gate, checked for prohibited items, and verified biometrically before being allowed into the examination hall. Officials at the centre said the slight delay was due to final system checks and did not disrupt the day’s schedule.
