2026 UTME: Candidates, dad and mom communicate as JAMB conducts examination for two.2m college students in 966 centres
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Thursday, commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for two.2 million candidates in throughout 966 Pc Based mostly Check (CBT) Centres nationwide.
The annual UTME is one in every of Nigeria’s largest entrance examinations into tertiary establishments, attracting hundreds of thousands of candidates throughout accredited CBT centres nationwide.
Accreditation, biometric verification and computer-based testing have been ongoing at a number of centres visited by our reporter within the FCT; with safety personnel and officers supervising the train.
Talking with journalists at Aduvie Worldwide College CBT centre, one of many candidates, Stephen Sonde, stated the examination course of adopted correct procedures from accreditation to completion of the take a look at.
Sonde stated candidates waited briefly for his or her session earlier than present process biometric verification and system association forward of the examination. He stated the examination was nicely organised and stress-free, including that there was no community failure all through his session.
“We did our thumbprint efficiently and every part went easily. After that, we have been referred to as in response to our numbers and seated correctly. There have been clear directions earlier than the examination began, which helped us perceive learn how to save solutions and finish the take a look at. The system labored completely from starting to the tip. I used to be even among the many first candidates to complete in my session,” he stated.
Additionally talking, one other candidate, Emmanuel Anyaoha, confirmed that the examination went easily with out technical glitches, expressing appreciation to the examination physique for the graceful conduct.
Equally, a candidate at Gudmerc Kiddies Academy CBT centre in Kurudu, Elijah Itua, counseled the graceful conduct, describing the centre as nicely organised and conducive for candidates.
He stated the examination surroundings was orderly, whereas the amenities functioned effectively all through the train, including that the examination commenced barely delayed; resulting from late arrival of some candidates.
He added that the pc programs operated easily with out technical hitches through the examination.
“This isn’t my first time writing the UTME. The centre may be very good and every part labored completely. There was no problem in any respect. We have been supposed to begin by 6:30 a.m., however many college students got here late, so the examination began round 7:00 a.m. The programs labored nicely and every part was okay. There have been no issues whereas utilizing the computer systems,” he stated.
On his half, the Centre Administrator of Aduvie Worldwide College CBT centre, Sylvester Edom, stated the continuing UTME was progressing easily on the centre, saying the primary session of the examination commenced as scheduled, with candidates already writing their papers.
He counseled the Federal Authorities, the Ministry of Training and JAMB for guaranteeing a disciplined and well-coordinated examination course of nationwide.
The administrator defined that preparations forward of the examination helped to stop technical challenges through the train, saying JAMB conducts a number of pre-examination demonstrations and system assessments to make sure seamless operations.
He disclosed that three examination periods have been scheduled for the primary day, including that 235 candidates participated within the first session of the examination.
He additionally famous that no case of examination malpractice or tried malpractice had been recorded on the centre, saying JAMB has deployed a number of safety measures, together with biometric verification and candidate identification programs, to safeguard the credibility of the examination.
“At our centre, actions began precisely as scheduled and, as we communicate, all candidates for the primary session are writing their examinations. Earlier than the examination, we normally perform demonstration periods, typically two or 3 times, to make sure that there are not any technical glitches. Presently, we now have not recorded any technical problem at our centre,” Edom stated.
A guardian on the centre, Mrs Chika Anyaoha, stated she arrived early together with her son, making adequately ready primarily based on her earlier expertise with the examination course of.
She stated dad and mom must plan forward as a result of UTME examination days normally require persistence and early arrival at centres, urging authorities to make sure that marking processes remained clear and environment friendly
“We have been ready as a result of my son wrote the examination final yr. It isn’t one thing you rush; you put aside the day for it,” she stated.