Abuja, NIGERIA — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates receiving a “No Result Yet” notification after checking their 2026 UTME scores are likely underage applicants.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Board confirmed that these results are being intentionally withheld to verify eligibility.
The Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated that the message is not a technical glitch but a reflection of the Board’s age policy.
Okay News reports that the current regulation requires candidates to be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The “Exceptional Category” Protocol
While the age limit is strictly enforced for the general population, JAMB has provided a narrow window for exceptionally gifted students. To be considered under this “exceptional category,” an underage candidate must meet the following rigorous benchmarks:
- UTME Performance: Must score 320 or above in the examination.
- Screening Performance: Must attain at least 80% in a subsequent institutional or Board-monitored screening exercise.
According to Dr. Benjamin, only underage candidates who hit the 320-mark benchmark will be shortlisted and invited for further evaluation. These arrangements have reportedly been reached and endorsed by the parents of the affected candidates.
The Board emphasized that this policy is designed to ensure that students are psychologically and academically mature enough for the rigors of university life. Candidates who do not meet the “exceptional” criteria and fail to reach the age requirement by the September deadline will have their results permanently withheld for the current academic session.
