The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially urged prospective candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) to begin creating their profiles immediately.
In a weekly bulletin released on Monday, January 5, 2026, the Board emphasized that early profile creation is a vital prerequisite to a hitch-free registration process. The directive comes as the Board prepares for the 2026 examination cycle, maintaining its commitment to a technology-driven admission process.
The Board issued a stern warning regarding the National Identification Number (NIN), which remains a compulsory requirement for all candidates. Prospective applicants were advised to verify that their personal data including name spelling, date of birth, and gender on their NIN records matches their academic credentials before initiating the profile creation.
Candidates must ensure that their NIN details are correctly captured, the Board stated. Inaccuracies could result in avoidable complications during registration and the examination process.
JAMB further cautioned that the window for data correction is notoriously limited. To avoid being disqualified or facing administrative hurdles, candidates are urged to take personal responsibility for the accuracy of their details from the onset.
In a move that offers significant relief to Nigerian families facing tough economic realities, JAMB reassured parents and candidates that the cost of UTME and DE application documents has remained unchanged for nearly a decade.
The Board indicated that fees for the 2026 exercise are unlikely to increase, aligning with the Federal Government’s human-face policy. This price freeze is intended to ensure that quality education remains accessible despite national economic pressures.
While a specific closing date has not yet been announced, the Board noted that registration can officially commence at any time. By creating profiles now, candidates can bypass the last-minute difficulties and server congestion often associated with the final weeks of registration.
