By Erewunmi Peace

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the commencement of sales of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Abuja by the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during a briefing with stakeholders.

According to the examination body, candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions through UTME must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026 to be eligible.

JAMB stressed that the age policy will be strictly enforced, with only exceptionally gifted underage candidates allowed to register after meeting special assessment requirements.

JAMB also disclosed that UTME registration will run from January 26 to February 28, 2026, while the sale of Direct Entry forms is scheduled to begin on March 2 and end on April 25, 2026.

The 2026 UTME examination is expected to hold between April 16 and April 25, 2026, while the optional Mock UTME is slated for March 28, 2026.

Professor Oloyede urged candidates to adhere strictly to the registration guidelines and warned against providing false information, noting that violations could lead to disqualification.

JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process and ensuring a fair admission system across the country.