2.2m Begin UTME Nationwide

The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), commenced nationwide yesterday.

Candidates and parents have so far expressed satisfaction over the largely seamless conduct of the exercise, despite minor biometric verification hitches recorded at some centres.

It was earlier reported that over 2.2 million candidates are expected to sit the examination which runs from April 16 to April 22 and is being conducted across over 900 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

At centres monitored by LEADERSHIP yesterday, the process was largely smooth, with only slight delays linked to biometric verification procedures.

At Aduvie International School, the first session of the examination commenced at about 8:40am, slightly behind the scheduled 8:30am start, as officials completed clearance processes for candidates.

The UTME is conducted in four sessions daily to accommodate the large number of candidates.

For the first session, candidates are expected to arrive by 7 am, with the examination running from 8:30am to 10:30am. The second session begins with arrival at 9am and examination from 11am to 1pm while the third session runs from 1:30 pm to 3:30pm after a 12:00 noon arrival.

The fourth and final session of every day starts at 4 pm and ends at 6 pm following a 2 pm arrival time.

Candidates are advised to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled time to allow for biometric verification and other clearance procedures, which are often responsible for minor delays.

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP during the during monitoring tour, the centre administrator at Aduvie International School, Mr Obo Sylvester Edom, said the exercise had been smooth, with no technical glitches recorded at the centre.

According to him, “Everything is going on well. As you speak now, all our candidates are writing. We thank the federal government, the Ministry of Education, and the JAMB leadership for the discipline they have instilled in the system.”

He explained that prior to the examination, JAMB conducts multiple system tests, known as demos, to eliminate potential technical issues.

“We usually carry out demo tests two or three times before the examination day to ensure there are no glitches. At our centre, there has been no technical issue,” he said.

Edom added that no case of malpractice had been recorded, attributing this to strict measures put in place by the examination body.

“There are several layers of checks, including biometric verification and candidate identification on printed slips. These measures have made malpractice very difficult,” he noted.

He disclosed that about 235 candidates participated in the first session at the centre, out of approximately 250 expected for the day’s exercise, which was scheduled in three sessions.

Some candidates, however, experienced slight delays during verification. At the Aduvie centre, one candidate was unable to complete the process due to a thumbprint mismatch.

Despite this, candidates who successfully completed the process described the examination as smooth and stress-free.

A candidate, Sunday Nnaneme, said although there was a brief waiting period before entry, the overall process was orderly.

“We waited a little before entering the hall, and after the thumbprint verification, everything went smoothly. We were seated according to our numbers, and the system worked perfectly,” he said.

He added that the examination itself was not difficult and that there were no network issues throughout the session.

“The exam was not stressful, and everything worked well from beginning to the end. There was no network failure,” he said.

Another candidate, Anyaoha Emmanuel, also commended the process, noting that the system functioned efficiently throughout his session.

“The examination was good. The system worked very well, and there were no technical issues,” he said.

Parents who accompanied their wards to the centres also expressed confidence in the process, while urging candidates to remain calm and prepared.

Mrs Chika Anyaoha, who brought her son to the centre, said her prior experience helped her plan adequately for the exercise.

“This is not my first time. I experienced it with my first son last year, so I was well prepared. It is not something you rush,  you plan for it,” she said.

She acknowledged minor delays but said they were understandable given the scale of the exercise.

“We expected it to start exactly at 9 am but it was slightly delayed. Still, the process is going well. My son came out smiling, so I believe everything went fine,” she added.