The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially closed registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with a record 2,030,627 candidates set to sit for the nationwide test scheduled for April 25, 2025. The figure, released in the board’s weekly bulletin on Monday, excludes candidates registered at foreign centers.
Registration for the critical university entrance exam began on February 3, 2025, with applicants given a five-week window to complete the process. JAMB confirmed no extensions would be granted beyond the March 8 deadline, urging candidates to focus on preparation for the Computer-Based Test (CBT).
A total of 200,115 candidates opted to take the optional mock UTME, a dry run designed to familiarize participants with the exam interface and environment. Of these, 630 candidates will participate in an experimental “trial mock examination” to stress-test new proctoring systems.
With registration closed, JAMB has shifted focus to curbing malpractice, deploying advanced monitoring tools to safeguard exam integrity. The board reported multiple arrests during the registration phase, including candidates attempting to secure admission with forged A-level certificates.
“Any candidate engaging in impersonation, document forgery, or proxy test-taking will face prosecution,” JAMB warned in its bulletin. The board emphasized that its upgraded surveillance systems now flag suspicious biometric mismatches and irregular registration patterns in real time.
JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede addressed widespread concerns about potential internet failures disrupting the exam, clarifying that the UTME operates on a Local Area Network (LAN) rather than public internet.
“The CBT centers function as closed, secure systems with direct server connections,” Oloyede explained. “This eliminates reliance on external internet providers, minimizing technical risks.”
NIN Compliance and Data Accuracy
The National Identification Number (NIN) remained mandatory for registration, with JAMB’s systems cross-referencing applicant details against the National Identity Management Commission’s database. Candidates with discrepancies were directed to use the board’s “REQUERY” portal feature for corrections, rather than seeking unauthorized alterations.
JAMB reiterated that the UTME remains distinct from school-based assessments like WAEC and NECO, urging parents and schools to avoid conflating the processes. The board also cautioned against third-party interference in registration or result verification, advising candidates to use only official JAMB portals.
Registered candidates can now print their exam slips detailing their center assignments and schedules. JAMB advised aspirants to confirm their venues early and report irregularities through designated helplines.
