JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Registration Guidelines, Highlights Common Profile Code, NIN Issues

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has published comprehensive guidelines for the 2026 UTME registration, alongside a list of common challenges candidates may encounter during the process. The update, released on Sunday via the Board’s official X handle, is aimed at helping prospective applicants prepare ahead of the registration window.

According to JAMB, candidates must ensure that all personal information — including National Identification Number (NIN), email address, and A-Level results — is accurate before generating a profile code, as the data cannot be edited afterward. To obtain the profile code, candidates are required to send their 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 in the correct format (e.g., NIN 00000011111).

Once generated, the profile code automatically links to biodata retrieved from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Candidates must then proceed to any JAMB office or accredited CBT centre to complete their registration.

The board advised that E-PINs should only be purchased from approved vendors, including banks, online payment platforms, and authorised merchants at registration centres. Before submitting the final form, candidates are expected to double-check the registration template to ensure all details are correct.

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JAMB warned that inaccurate or mismatched details may result in delays. Candidates with incorrect data are advised to update their records with NIMC ahead of registration and confirm that the corrections reflect on the portal — especially details such as name, date of birth, gender, and state of origin.

The board emphasised that email addresses and GSM numbers serve as unique identifiers and cannot be changed or shared. These must be functional before registration.

For candidates who encounter biometric issues, JAMB instructed them to report directly to the nearest JAMB office, adding that no CBT centre is permitted to forcibly complete registration without successful biometric capture. Candidates are also advised to ensure that dual screens are used during registration and that their passport photograph and biometrics are captured correctly.

JAMB listed some of the common errors noticed during profile code generation, including:

• Error 55019/66019 — caused by incorrect message format
• Number Already Registered — indicating the SIM is tied to another candidate’s profile
• Unable to Verify NIN — candidates should wait and try again

The 2026 JAMB UTME form will be available for sale from Friday, January 31, 2026, to Saturday, March 8, 2026.

JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Registration Guidelines, Highlights Common Profile Code, NIN Issues

FG Clarifies WAEC Subject Selection, Says Students Free to Choose Across All Fields

The Federal Government has issued a clear explanation on subject selection under the revised Senior Secondary School Curriculum as registration for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) continues nationwide.

In a joint statement released on Saturday, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Sa’id Suwaiba Ahmad, clarified that there is no restriction or exclusion attached to the choice of any approved subject.
“All subjects remain fully open for students to choose from, provided such choices are properly guided by the school authority, parents, or a certified school counsellor,” the ministers stated.

They explained that science students are free to pick subjects traditionally grouped under the arts or social sciences, while arts and social science students may also select science-based subjects. According to the ministers, the revised curriculum was designed to be flexible, student-centred, and supportive of diverse academic interests and career pathways.

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The government also clarified that the subject previously known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has now been renamed Digital Technology, stressing that the adjustment is only a change in nomenclature. The curriculum content remains intact, and students who offered ICT are fully qualified to register for Digital Technology in both internal and external examinations.

Addressing concerns over trade subjects, the Ministry noted that six have been officially approved.
“A student may register for any of these subjects if the school offers them and the student has been taught the subject. However, there is no obligation to register for a trade subject where a student has not been exposed to any of the six approved options,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its commitment to smooth and accurate examination processes, the Ministry urged parents, school owners, counsellors and examination bodies to rely on verified information and ensure proper guidance to all candidates.

The Federal Government assured that it will continue to promote seamless, well-coordinated WAEC registration across the country.

FG Clarifies WAEC Subject Selection, Says Students Free to Choose Across All Fields

NECO grants full accreditation to schools in Burkina Faso to conduct SSCE, BECE exams

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international operations with the accreditation of schools in Burkina Faso to conduct its flagship examinations, the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the council’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, confirmed that NECO granted full approval after a comprehensive assessment of selected institutions in the West African nation.

According to Sani, a NECO accreditation team evaluated the schools’ infrastructure and readiness by inspecting classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities and overall security architecture. The team also reviewed Continuous Assessment (CA) records, staffing levels, and the general learning environment before issuing approval.

“Following a thorough and detailed evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation to host the SSCE and BECE,” Sani said.

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He added that NECO’s expansion into Burkina Faso reflects its growing commitment to providing quality education assessment services across Africa. With this development, the council strengthens its goal of becoming a leading continental examination body serving both Nigerian and foreign students.

Sani further recalled that NECO recently established an examination centre in London, United Kingdom, adding to existing centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. M.D. Galadima, applauded the development, describing it as a major relief for Nigerian families in the country. He noted that parents previously had to take their children to Saki, Oyo State, to register and sit for NECO exams — a process that posed security risks and imposed heavy financial burdens.

“With this accreditation, those risks are eliminated, and families can now save significant costs,” Galadima said, urging Nigerians in Burkina Faso to seize the opportunity by enrolling their children for NECO examinations.

Leader of the accreditation team, Dr. Uche Ezenwanne, said the approval now allows Nigerian students residing in Burkina Faso to write the SSCE and BECE without travelling back home.

NECO grants full accreditation to schools in Burkina Faso to conduct SSCE, BECE exams