UTME

By Uzair AdamThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially launched the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for special needs candidates across the country.

The initiative is part of JAMB’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian student is excluded from pursuing higher education.

At a press briefing held at the BUK’s School of Continuing Education in Kano, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello, Coordinator of the Kano Centre for the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), explained that over 500 special needs candidates are participating in the exams at 11 centers nationwide.

The Daily Reality gathered that the Kano Centre alone is set to host 92 candidates from across Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and parts of Kaduna states.

Prof. Bello clarified that the examinations, while tailored to meet the needs of candidates with disabilities such as visual impairments, autism, Down syndrome, and albinism, are of the same standard as those for regular candidates.

“The goal is to ensure that these candidates are not disadvantaged when competing for university placements,” he said.For the first time this year, special needs candidates are writing Computer Studies as part of their UTME subjects, marking a significant step toward inclusivity.

“This is a major breakthrough, with candidates from Kano and Lagos leading the way,” Prof. Bello added.

JAMB’s commitment to inclusivity is further reflected in the special accommodations provided, including free accommodation, feeding, and transportation for the candidates.

Additionally, candidates who meet specific requirements, like uploading their O’ Level results with at least five credits, are eligible for a refund of their registration fees.

The initiative, which started in 2017, has steadily grown under the leadership of JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who emphasized that the examinations must maintain the same rigorous standards as those for regular candidates to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.

Prof. Bello also highlighted the support the Kano Centre receives from local institutions such as Bayero University and the Department of Special Education, which help to facilitate the smooth conduct of the examination process.

He added that the 2025 UTME for special needs candidates is yet another milestone in JAMB’s ongoing effort to promote an inclusive education system, ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of their condition, has a fair chance to succeed academically.

By Rashida Aliyu

The term ‘Jambites’ refers to new or fresh students at the university, and they often display certain characteristics that set them apart from returning students.

Upon their arrival at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, the faces of Jambites reflected a mixture of excitement and confusion, marking their transition from a secondary school environment to university life.

In observations, Jambites often exhibit behavior characterized by anxiety, as the university setting is entirely new to them. Many struggle with finding their way, navigating registration processes, and adapting to the academic system. As a result, they frequently seek assistance from returning students or university staff to understand how things work.

The fashion of Freshers and their engagement on social media is notable; Jambites tend to wear trendy outfits in an attempt to make a good first impression. They often document their initial experiences by sharing pictures and updates online to inform friends and family about their new journey.

Financial mismanagement is a common issue for many new students, particularly those living on campus. They often receive significant amounts of money from their parents to cover expenses, but inadequate financial planning—largely due to a lack of understanding of the environment—can lead some to spend extravagantly on unnecessary items during the initial weeks, resulting in financial difficulties later.

Eager to attend lectures, Jambites typically arrive early and try to secure seats at the front of the lecture hall to impress their lecturers. However, as the semester progresses, some may become less punctual as they settle into their new school life.

Jambites often seek guidance from senior students, who may either genuinely help them or exploit their naivety. Some returning students mislead newcomers by either exaggerating school rules or soliciting money for the assistance they provide.

Additionally, members of the local community and operators of computer business centers can sometimes betray the trust of new students. For instance, during the accommodation process, many new students are deceived by locals who take their money without providing housing. Furthermore, computer business centers and stationery shops often overcharge freshers for items and services compared to what regular students pay.

Hafsat Muhammad Tsamaye from the Faculty of FEED shared her experiences of life as a Jambite. She mentioned enjoying wandering around the campus without any specific purpose, simply to observe the movement of people. “During my first year, which people referred to as Jambito, it was amusing and easy because I was a Jambito. There were three things I normally did during that time: I was always looking for free Wi-Fi to download more movies than I could watch, even though I didn’t end up watching a lot of them,” she recalled.

Hafsat also shared her experience of attending night classes, remarking, “During my first semester as a Jambito, I always attended night classes, but I didn’t study much; I mostly just slept and changed classes every hour, spending money without any control. The funniest part was that I always cooked for others.”

The behaviors exhibited by Jambites upon their arrival at UDUS vary, but most of them show excitement, anxiety, and a strong desire to fit in.

In my opinion, the university management should implement a comprehensive orientation program to guide newcomers and facilitate their smooth transition into university life. This would help prevent potential issues. Additionally, returning students should treat freshers as their juniors and ensure they do not mislead them.

By Maryam Ahmad

Remita has commenced the sale of ePINs for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry following JAMB’s official announcement.

Sales will run from February 3 to April 7, 2025. Candidates can purchase ePINs via the Remita website, mobile app, and authorised agents nationwide.

Chinedu Alisa, Head of Enterprise Assets at Remita, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to accessible education, ensuring seamless payments for students regardless of location. He warned against unauthorised price hikes, stressing that ePINs must be sold at JAMB’s approved rates.

Remita has also empowered agents and schools to facilitate sales while offering bulk purchase commissions, reinforcing a fair and transparent registration process.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Fatima Alkali Saleh, a bright student from Yobe State, has been awarded a full scholarship by Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori, Chairman of ThinkLab Group, after scoring an impressive 336 in the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam.

The scholarship covers her tuition and essential academic tools, including a laptop and technical drawing instruments, supporting her ambition to study architecture.

Dr. Kori praised Fatima’s dedication, stating that her excellence aligns with ThinkLab Group’s vision of empowering future leaders.

Fatima expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunity, vowing to give back to her community. Her achievement stands as an inspiration for students across Nigeria.

By Anwar Usman

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said the registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has now been shifted to Monday, February 3, 2025, instead of Friday, January 31, 2025, as earlier slated.

The Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He said the change was necessary to allow the Board to implement essential adjustments to its registration templates.

“These adjustments came in light of the recent suspension of certain law programmes at selected universities, as submitted to the Board by the Council for Legal Education.

“Additionally, the Board discovered that some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres had used deceptive facilities to be approved, prompting the need for further scrutiny and corrections by disapproving such centres”.

He further stated, “The Board acknowledges the disruption this may cause to candidates and other stakeholders and sincerely apologises for any inconvenience”.

He said the additional time would be used to ensure that all necessary changes were implemented for a smooth registration process.

By Uzair Adam 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has initiated the accreditation of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in preparation for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced the commencement of the accreditation exercise in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing its importance in ensuring a smooth examination process.

The statement urged new CBT centres interested in participating in the 2025 UTME to review the requirements provided on JAMB’s official website. 

According to the statement, prospective centres must be able to familiarize themselves with the outlined standards by visiting the JAMB portal and submitting a formal notification of interest to the Registrar through the respective Zonal Director or State Coordinator.

Established centres that were accredited for the 2024 UTME and operated without issues are required to register their interest via the Centre Management System (CMS) Portal. 

For new centres, JAMB’s Zonal and State Offices will assist in creating accounts on the CMS Portal to facilitate their registration. 

“All centres must complete the mandatory Autobot/Autotest on a date to be announced as part of their preparation for the physical accreditation visit by the Board’s team,” the statement noted.

Dr Benjamin highlighted that only centres that successfully pass the Autobot/Autotest and meet JAMB’s stipulated standards would proceed to the next stage of the accreditation process. 

The physical accreditation exercise is set to commence in December 2024, with notifications sent only to qualifying centres.

JAMB reiterated that centres failing to meet the required standards during the Autobot/Autotest will not be considered for inclusion in the 2025 UTME registration and examination.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has reversed its earlier decision, announcing that 16-year-olds can now be admitted into tertiary institutions.

Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had initially directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to only admit candidates who are 18 years or older.

However, stakeholders at a policy meeting organized by JAMB in Abuja objected to this decision, arguing that it is illogical to deny admission to 16-year-old students who have passed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams.

Following this feedback, the minister accepted the stakeholders’ suggestions and announced that candidates aged 16 and above would be eligible for admission this year, while the new policy would take effect from next year.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Here are the steps to check your JAMB score:

– Online Method:

– Visit the JAMB eFacility Portal at https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/login.

– Enter your login details (email address and password you used during registration).

– Click on the “Check UTME Results” button.

– Your UTME score for each subject will be displayed on the screen.

– SMS Method:

– Open your messaging app. – Compose a new message.

– Type “RESULT” (all caps) followed by your JAMB Registration Number.

– Send the SMS to 55019 or 66019 (the official JAMB result from SMS numbers). – JAMB will send a reply SMS containing your scores for each subject taken.

Remember to note that the SMS method incurs a charge of N50, which will be deducted from your mobile phone airtime.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken disciplinary action against an official in Lagos who directed a female candidate to remove her hijab during the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

The incident occurred at Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop in Ejigbo, Lagos, during the accreditation process, causing controversy.

The candidate was told to remove her hijab, a head covering worn by some Muslim women, before being allowed to sit the examination. 

JAMB condemned the official’s action in a statement issued on Sunday, saying: “We were made aware of an unfortunate incident where a candidate wearing a hijab was asked to remove her headcover during accreditation before entering the examination hall.” 

The board reaffirmed its commitment to selecting suitably qualified candidates for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and assured that it would not allow any distractions from this goal. 

The 2024 UTME, which began on Friday, April 19, 2024, has been smooth, with over 1.2 million candidates successfully taking the examination by Monday. 

According to JAMB’s spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, “The Board is dedicated to fulfilling its statutory role and will not allow anything or anyone to hinder its pursuit of this noble goal.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has officially commenced its Post-University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) Admissions Screening Exercise for the upcoming 2023–2024 Academic Session. 

The announcement was made by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Jamilu M. Magaji, during a press briefing held at the institution’s Main Campus in Birnin Kebbi on Monday. 

This highly anticipated screening exercise is set to span five days, running from Monday, September 25th, to Friday, September 29th, 2023.

Candidates from various academic faculties will undergo this rigorous evaluation process to secure their positions at FUBK. 

To streamline the screening process, the university has divided the candidates into groups based on their respective faculties. 

On Monday and Tuesday, candidates from the Faculty of Science and the College of Health Sciences will be screened.

Wednesday is reserved for candidates from the Faculties of Art and Social and Management Sciences, while Thursday and Friday will see candidates from the Faculties of Environmental Sciences and Education undergo their assessments. 

Muhammad Atiku, a candidate pursuing a B.Sc. in Geology, praised the screening exercise, emphasising its focus on academic and moral standards. 

Atiku’s sentiments echoed the positive feedback from other candidates, such as Hauwa Salihu Adamu, a Department of Microbiology applicant, who described the process as “perfect” and an excellent opportunity for interaction with fellow applicants from across the nation. 

The Federal University Birnin Kebbi, established in 2013, is a federal government-owned institution with a strong commitment to academic excellence. 

Currently, the university boasts three campuses and offers a wide array of academic programmes, including thirty-seven undergraduate and twenty postgraduate programmes, making it a preferred choice for aspiring scholars in Nigeria. 

As the screening exercise unfolds over the next five days, candidates are eager to showcase their qualifications and secure their places at FUBK, contributing to the university’s legacy of academic excellence and growth.