UTME Registration Begins Jan 26: JAMB Sets the Clock Ticking for 2025 Exams

By: Abudu Olalekan

The countdown is on. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will run from January 26 to February 28 across all approved CBT centres in Nigeria. And yes, it’s close. It’s not one of those “you still have time” kind of things.

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, dropped the update on Saturday in Lagos while meeting with Commissioners for Education ahead of the 2025 UTME and Direct Entry exercises. The vibe of the meeting? Serious business. Like, “let’s get everything tight before the rush starts” serious.

But here’s where many people usually get it twisted. JAMB says the sale of the UTME application document (the ePIN) will start before the main registration kicks off. That means the process begins earlier than some candidates are planning for. According to Oloyede, ePIN sales will run from January 19 to February 26, while the real registration window remains January 26 to February 28.

So, basically: you can start buying what you need, even before you fully register. Simple. But if you ignore it, it won’t be simple again.

And if you’re thinking of doing the mock exam, note this part. The mock examination selection closes February 16. That deadline is sharp. Miss it and that’s it, no long story. Oloyede also said Direct Entry (DE) application document sales and ePIN vending will start March 2 and end April 25. Different timeline, different crowd, same pressure.

Another big change is about underage candidates. Last year, some people got their results and moved on fast. This time, not so fast. JAMB says the UTME results of underage candidates will only be released after the full evaluation process is completed. The point is to properly assess those requesting age waivers. It’s a control move. And honestly, they’re not hiding it.

Now to CBT centres. JAMB isn’t playing.

Oloyede said all CBT centres involved in UTME registration will be monitored live from JAMB headquarters. Live. As in real-time. And he gave a warning that sounded like a final warning: any centre whose registration activity can’t be viewed from HQ won’t be paid, and that registration might even be invalidated. Painful. Imagine registering and later hearing “it didn’t count.” Nobody wants that.

He also revealed that 924 centres have been screened and provisionally listed, but they still have to pass a final test before full accreditation. Meaning, not every centre claiming “approved” is truly approved. Some are still on probation, basically.

Money matters too. JAMB is insisting candidates don’t need to pay any service charge to CBT centres. The only payment should be the official registration fee approved by the board. Still, we all know how things can be. Some centres will try tactics. Small, small “extra charges.” If you see it, just know it’s not coming from JAMB.

On the usual complaint about being posted far away, Oloyede said JAMB does not post candidates to exam towns outside what they selected during registration. But he added a key detail: when you choose a group of towns, you can be posted to any town inside that chosen group. So choose wisely. Don’t just tap anything because you’re tired or the café guy is rushing you.

He also advised candidates to register early. Late registration can reduce your chances of getting your preferred town. And that part is very real.

There was also a warning about candidates hiding past records. Oloyede urged candidates to declare previous registration and admission history, noting that some candidates were involved in malpractice during last year’s UTME. He added that running more than one undergraduate programme at the same time is a criminal offence. If you don’t disclose prior admission, he said, you can be sanctioned. No jokes.

Finally, age eligibility. JAMB’s general rule: candidates should be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026 to apply and be considered for admission. Underage candidates can still try for a waiver, but it’s not by vibes. JAMB says they must score at least 80% in each of UTME/A’LEVEL, PUTME, SSCE, and the exceptional candidate assessment. That’s a heavy bar. Like, very heavy.