The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the removal of special registration privileges previously granted to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Board cited widespread misuse of the concession, including attempts to manipulate the system through artificial intelligence, as the main reason for the decision.
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Saturday during a meeting in Ikeja, Lagos, with Commissioners for Education from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The meeting reviewed past admission exercises and explored measures to strengthen integrity in the UTME process.
Oloyede explained that despite earlier safeguards, some candidates had sought to exploit the system. “We have stopped special procedures for albino candidates. Some individuals were using technology to falsely register as albinos to benefit from the concessions. Last year alone, over 7,000 claimed to be albinos,” he said.
The Registrar also addressed complaints from students in private institutions who were required to participate in religious activities. He urged faith-based schools to be upfront about their religious affiliation at the point of admission. “Institutions should clearly state their religious orientation. It is unfair to present as secular and later impose religious rules on students,” he said.
On the issue of undergraduates retaking the UTME to change courses or help others gain admission, Oloyede warned that such practices would no longer be tolerated. “Candidates already in university must declare their status. Last year, the top scorer was discovered to be a 300-level student. Any future cases of this nature will lead to disqualification and loss of current admission,” he added.
Oloyede also clarified federal and state admission quotas. Federal institutions allocate 45% of slots based on merit, 20% to candidates from the institution’s catchment area, another 20% to students from educationally disadvantaged states, and the remaining 15% to other considerations. He encouraged states to assign at least 10% of admissions to merit to promote diversity in student intake.
Regarding age requirements, JAMB maintained 16 as the minimum age for admission. Only a small number of applicants claiming to be underage were approved after verification, highlighting concerns over inflated claims. Parental pressure for early academic completion was identified as a major factor in these irregularities.
To combat examination malpractice, JAMB has tightened control over Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. Computers are now fixed to specific centres to prevent unauthorised movement, and candidates’ personal data are verified against their National Identification Numbers.
The Registrar provided an update on the 2025 UTME, noting that 974,855 candidates had gained admission out of about 1.95 million who sat for the exam. He also announced that more than N2.4 billion had been disbursed to institutions that consistently adhered to JAMB’s regulations over the past decade.
On accreditation, Oloyede said teams of university vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts oversee CBT centres in each state. He cautioned state governments against partnerships with private operators who may facilitate malpractice.
