The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a major change to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, exempting candidates seeking admission into education programmes and agriculture-related non-engineering courses from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The decision was announced on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
In a statement shared on its official X handle, JAMB said, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
Speaking at the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates seeking admission into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme would no longer be required to write the examination provided they possess a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects.
Alausa, however, clarified that while exempted candidates would not sit for UTME, they must still register with JAMB for credential screening and verification through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
He said the policy was designed to expand access to tertiary education while maintaining regulatory oversight and admission standards.
According to him, the exemption also extends to candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses offered by polytechnics.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system,” the minister said.
“It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development.”
The move represents one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s centralised admission process in recent years, as the UTME has traditionally been the mandatory entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.
The annual policy meeting convened by JAMB determines admission procedures, cut-off marks and guidelines for the new academic cycle.
The latest policy is expected to create alternative admission pathways for prospective students seeking careers in education and agriculture, two sectors that have historically recorded lower application pressure compared to highly competitive courses such as medicine, law and engineering.
Education stakeholders say the decision could help boost enrolment in teacher education programmes and agricultural disciplines, which government officials have repeatedly identified as critical to national development and workforce sustainability.
The announcement comes as the Federal Government continues broader reforms aimed at improving access to tertiary education and strengthening manpower development across strategic sectors.
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