JAMB: Over 700,000 candidates have registered for 2025 UTME in 10 days

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says over 700,000 candidates have registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB registrar, spoke in Lagos on Friday while inspecting approved computer-based test (CBT) centres where candidates are being registered.

Oloyede said 11,000 underage applicants are among the 700,000 candidates.

“As of today, we have registered 779,714 candidates. This is the second week and the 10th day of registration,” he said.

“At this moment, the figure stands at 780,202, with 11,512 underage applicants. Today alone, 443 underage candidates were registered.”

Oloyede explained that the examination body provided exemptions in its policy “to accommodate exceptionally gifted underage candidates”.

He said some Nigerians tend to misuse the opportunity given by JAMB, adding that “gifted children should not be excluded”.

He urged underage candidates who believe they are brilliant enough to apply for the examination.

The JAMB registrar also clarified that underage candidates taking the CBT are not yet considered full candidates.

“The policy maintains the minimum age of 16, as in 2024, but allows exceptions for highly gifted underage candidates,” he added.

“Underage candidates are those below 16 but exceptionally brilliant, typically aged 13 to 14. We identify a few such individuals, perhaps 30 to 50 across the country.

“If you believe you have something exceptional, you should register.

“Those under 16 are applicants, not candidates. Only those 16 and above are regarded as candidates.

“Applicants must prove they meet the criteria, or penalties may apply. It would be better for them to wait, as they risk wasting their money.”

Oloyede said some candidates were registered for free under the trial testing category but “paid N3,500 to secure CBT facility and materials.”

“They pay N1,000 for a book, N700 to the CBT centre, N1,500 for the exam venue, and N300 to banks as a commission. This totals N3,500, with JAMB taking nothing from them,” he said.

Recently, the issue of minimum entry age into higher institutions has been a subject of public discourse.

Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, said the ministry is looking to set 16 years as the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions.

Oloyede had also said exceptionally brilliant candidates below 16 years could sit for UTME.