Yemi Obafemi
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that it does not prohibit candidates already enrolled in tertiary institutions from registering for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry (DE).
In a statement signed by its Public Communication Advisor (PCA), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board described claims suggesting otherwise as false and misleading, noting that such insinuations persist despite repeated explanations.
According to JAMB, candidates who are already matriculated are permitted to apply for UTME or DE, provided they disclose their existing admission status at the point of registration, as stipulated in the 2026 UTME/DE advertisement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, JAMB does not prohibit candidates who are already enrolled in tertiary institutions from registering for the UTME/DE.
“What the Board requires is mandatory disclosure of any existing matriculation status at the point of registration.
“Disclosure is required strictly for record and regulatory purposes and to prevent multiple admissions. It simply means that once a candidate secures admission through the latest UTME/DE registration, any previous admission automatically ceases, as the law does not permit a candidate to hold two admissions concurrently.
“Failure to disclose an existing matriculation status constitutes an offence. Although the Board’s system can detect prior matriculation, any candidate found to have deliberately concealed such information risks forfeiting both opportunities,”the statement read.
The Board also cautioned the public against misleading interpretations promoted by what it described as self-styled education advocates, urging candidates and parents to rely solely on official JAMB guidelines and publications for accurate information.
