The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering ways to assess critical thinking and practical life skills in its examinations as part of wider efforts to improve Nigeria’s admission process, while 108 underage candidates have met the Federal Government’s requirements for consideration for early admission.
The two developments emerged during separate engagements involving JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, and Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Aina disclosed that a committee had been set up to examine the possibility of incorporating critical thinking and life skills into JAMB examinations. He said the proposal was still under review and that the board would await the committee’s findings before deciding whether to adopt it.
The proposed changes would explore how candidates’ reasoning, decision-making and ability to apply knowledge to real-life situations could be assessed alongside existing examination requirements. Aina did not announce a timeline for implementation.
Speaking during activities marking JAMB’s 2026 Customer Week at the board’s Abuja Zonal Office, the registrar also outlined ongoing efforts to make registration, examinations and admission less difficult for candidates.
He said JAMB was improving the information candidates receive about their admission applications, allowing them to track progress rather than depend solely on broad status notifications. The board has also used technology to make it easier for candidates who have lost access to their registered telephone numbers or email addresses to update their contact details.
Aina added that JAMB was working with the National Identity Management Commission to resolve legitimate discrepancies in candidates’ personal information. He warned, however, that the process would not be used to facilitate fraudulent changes of identity.
According to the registrar, the reforms are guided by two priorities: building public trust and reducing the stress candidates experience during the admission process. He maintained that JAMB’s role goes beyond conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to ensuring that qualified candidates receive fair consideration for admission.
At a separate ceremony, Alausa recognised outstanding performers in the 2026 UTME, including candidates who met the conditions for consideration below the standard minimum admission age of 16.
The minister said approximately 39,000 candidates under 16 sat the examination, but only 391 scored at least 320 out of 400, the minimum UTME score required to proceed with the exemption screening. Further assessments reduced the number who met all the stipulated requirements to 108.
The screening includes performance thresholds for the UTME, post-UTME examinations and O’level results, alongside an assessment of candidates’ psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness for university education. Meeting these conditions makes the candidates eligible for consideration but does not guarantee admission.
Alausa said the age policy was intended to ensure that exceptionally gifted children were sufficiently prepared for the demands of tertiary education, rather than to deny them opportunities because of their age. He urged the young candidates to use their abilities to develop innovations that could address challenges in Nigeria and beyond.
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin recorded the highest UTME score in 2026 with 372 marks, followed by Enwere Kingsley Ikenna with 370. They were among eight high-performing candidates presented by Aina and honoured by the minister with plaques and certificates.
Aina also emphasised that admission should depend on merit rather than personal connections, saying candidates should not need influential contacts to secure places for which they qualify. He said JAMB would continue building on reforms introduced by previous leaderships to strengthen transparency and confidence in the system.
While the proposed critical-thinking assessment remains under consideration, the board’s stated priorities include improving candidate services, protecting the integrity of personal records and making the admission process clearer and fairer.
