Parents of underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have been told their children’s results will remain withheld until a separate screening process is concluded, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced.
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, confirmed in an official statement that the “No Result Yet” message appearing on the result checking platforms of some candidates is not a technical error but a deliberate policy decision affecting underage registrants.
The board disclosed that its regulations permit only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by 30 September 2026 to register for and sit the examination. Underage candidates who scaled through registration, however, are not automatically disqualified but must meet a significantly higher performance benchmark to be considered for admission.
“Underage candidates may be considered under the exceptional category, provided they demonstrate outstanding ability by scoring 320 and above in the UTME and attaining at least 80% in subsequent screening stages,” the statement read.
Benjamin further noted that the arrangement was not unilateral, stating that it was reached and endorsed by the parents of the affected candidates prior to the examination.
“In line with the agreement reached and endorsed by parents of these underage candidates, only those who score 320 and above will be shortlisted and invited to proceed to the next stages of the screening,” the statement noted.
Candidates who fall below the 320 mark will not advance to further screening, and their results will remain unreleased. Those who meet the threshold and subsequently attain at least 80 per cent in the screening stages may then be considered for admission under the exceptional candidates provision.
The board urged parents who had contacted JAMB over the status to await the conclusion of the screening exercise before drawing conclusions about their children’s results.
Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
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