The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of all underage candidates for viewing.

The Board, however, said the release of the results did not automatically qualify the candidates for admission into tertiary institutions, stressing that only those who meet its stringent requirements for exceptional consideration would be eligible.

JAMB, in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, explained that an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise is any candidate who will be below 16 years as of September 30, 2026.

According to the Board, the results were released primarily to enable underage candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination.

It said such results could not be used for admission or any other official purpose, except for candidates who satisfy the prescribed requirements for exceptional admission.

To check their results, candidates must send RESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same telephone number and SIM card used to register for the UTME.

JAMB said only exceptionally performing underage candidates would be considered for admission, adding that the process involved multiple stages of assessment and verification.

It said candidates seeking exceptional consideration must obtain a minimum UTME score of 320, in addition to achieving at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.

Such candidates must also satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo a final assessment by experts.

The Board explained that the conditions were designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who merely performed well in the UTME.

It stressed that the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates was still ongoing, as all stages of assessment and verification had not been concluded.

JAMB said it would not be appropriate to conclude the process before candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results were given the opportunity to submit the results for verification.

The Board noted that the NECO results were yet to be released and said it would await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment.

It added that it would announce a date for the final assessment as soon as the NECO results were released.

JAMB further warned parents, guardians and candidates against individuals claiming to have the capacity to secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved process.

The Board said participation in the UTME and the release of a candidate’s result did not guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who had not attained the prescribed admission age.

It assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, in line with its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the tertiary admission system.