The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is working towards establishing a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
The proposed centre is intended to make it easier for Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the UTME without having to travel to Nigeria specifically for the examination.
JAMB disclosed the plan following a visit by its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
According to the board, the initiative is designed to expand access to the Nigerian tertiary education system for Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those seeking admission into universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
JAMB said the Ottawa centre would reduce the challenges faced by candidates who currently have to travel long distances to access designated examination centres.
The board described the initiative as part of its broader effort to take Nigerian tertiary education closer to Nigerians living outside the country.
JAMB also said the proposed centre would strengthen the relationship between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigeria’s education system while creating more opportunities to promote Nigerian tertiary education internationally.
“For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home,” the board said.
The proposed Ottawa centre would expand JAMB’s existing international examination network. The board already conducts UTME-related activities in a number of foreign locations, including the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa and other countries.
The development comes as JAMB prepares for the 2027 UTME. The board has already published information on approved registration centres for the 2027 examination cycle, while its Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System lists the 2027 UTME as an upcoming examination.
If implemented as planned, the Ottawa centre would give eligible Nigerians in Canada and elsewhere in North America another option for sitting the examination while pursuing admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
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JAMB said the initiative is ultimately aimed at providing greater access and reducing barriers for Nigerians abroad who wish to continue their education in Nigeria.