Nigeria’s tertiary admissions body, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will convene its annual policy meeting on 11 May, where key decisions, including minimum entry thresholds for the next academic session, are expected to be finalised.
In a statement on Sunday, the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said the meeting would take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Jabi, Abuja, bringing together senior figures across the higher education system.
At the centre of deliberations will be the minimum cut-off marks for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a benchmark that determines eligibility for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Benjamin said the gathering would also define broader admission guidelines and policy frameworks, effectively setting the tone for the nationwide admissions cycle.
“The board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines and policies for tertiary institutions,” he said, adding that strict adherence to agreed rules would be emphasised.
The minister of education, Tunji Alausa, is expected to outline the government’s policy direction at the meeting, which will include vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and registrars, alongside admissions officers from institutions across the country.
Regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission, the National Commission for Colleges of Education and the National Board for Technical Education will also be represented, reflecting the breadth of coordination required in Nigeria’s admissions system.
Goodwill messages are expected from institutions including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the National Youth Service Corps, underscoring the wider ecosystem linked to tertiary education access and outcomes.
The event will also feature the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards, an initiative aimed at encouraging compliance with admission rules and raising standards across the sector.
The annual policy meeting has become a focal point for shaping Nigeria’s admissions process, with decisions taken there often carrying significant implications for millions of prospective students navigating an increasingly competitive system.
