The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has established a stringent screening pathway for exceptionally gifted candidates below the statutory admission age, stipulating a minimum score of 320 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination as a mandatory condition for consideration.
Despite creating the concession for extraordinary applicants, the examination body reiterated its commitment to enforcing the 16-year minimum entry age requirement for tertiary institutions across the country, emphasizing that the window is strictly reserved for candidates who display extraordinary intellectual capabilities.
JAMB made the clarification while explaining that the “No Result Yet” notification being displayed on the portal of certain UTME candidates is not caused by a system glitch, but rather stems from an intentional administrative policy affecting candidates who failed to reach the required age limit.
The board revealed that the UTME results of applicants who fall short of the standard age benchmark have been held back, maintaining that affected candidates remain ineligible for university admission under existing regulatory frameworks. The explanation came in response to anxieties expressed by candidates and parents who had attributed the delay to technical issues on the portal.
In an official statement released in Abuja, the Public Communication Advisor for JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, noted that the portal status reflects adherence to established entry guidelines rather than technical errors.
He explained that standard eligibility rules permit only candidates who will attain at least 16 years of age by September 30, 2026, to apply for and participate in the UTME.
He indicated, however, that a specific waiver is provided for applicants classified under the academically gifted category.
According to him, candidates seeking consideration under the special path must obtain 320 marks and above in the UTME while also scoring a minimum of 80 per cent in post-UTME screening exercises and other subsequent evaluations conducted by institutions.
Benjamin pointed out that, in line with prior agreements reached with parents, only candidates who achieve the 320 mark will be shortlisted and allowed to advance to subsequent evaluation phases.
Applicants who satisfy all requirements across the various assessment stages may eventually gain consideration for tertiary admission within the exceptional candidates category.
“For now, results for underage candidates remain unreleased,” he said.
0 Comments