JAMB, Stakeholders to Determine 2026 Admission Cut-Off Marks May 11

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will determine the minimum acceptable Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores for the 2026/2027 admission exercise during its annual Policy Meeting scheduled for May 11, 2026, in Abuja.

The high-level meeting is expected to bring together major stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector to deliberate on admission benchmarks, guidelines, and policies that will govern admissions into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.

According to a statement issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Plot 688, Institute and Research District, FCC Phase III, Jabi, Abuja.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, is expected to declare the meeting open and unveil the Federal Government’s policy direction for the 2026/2027 admission cycle.

JAMB explained that the annual policy meeting remains one of the board’s most important exercises, as stakeholders collectively determine the minimum tolerable UTME scores and other regulatory frameworks guiding admissions into tertiary institutions.

“The Board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions,” the statement read.

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“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing it on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines.”

Participants expected at the meeting include vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars, admission officers, and representatives of major education regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the National Board for Technical Education.

The meeting comes amid growing public interest in admission benchmarks following recent debates over UTME performance trends, admission standards, and access to tertiary education across the country.

Although JAMB has yet to announce the official cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 session, previous policy meetings approved different minimum scores for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with institutions retaining the flexibility to set higher internal benchmarks.

Stakeholders are also expected to review compliance mechanisms aimed at ensuring transparency, merit, and fairness in the admission process, especially following concerns in recent years over irregular admissions and quota implementation.

In addition to admission policy discussions, the event will feature the 6th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), an initiative introduced by JAMB to reward institutions that demonstrate strict compliance with admission regulations and best practices.

The awards recognise tertiary institutions that uphold merit-based admissions, timely processing, and adherence to JAMB’s central admission system.

Education analysts say the outcome of the May 11 meeting will shape the admission landscape for millions of candidates seeking placement into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

JAMB, Stakeholders to Determine 2026 Admission Cut-Off Marks May 11

Minaret University sets academic, moral tone as pioneer students take historic oath

Minaret University, Ikirun, has formally launched its academic journey with a strong emphasis on discipline, research, and moral integrity, as it inducted its pioneer students at a historic maiden matriculation ceremony.

The ceremony, held last Thursday, at the institution’s Multi-Purpose Hall, saw 12 students admitted into the university’s academic community—marking a significant milestone for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community-owned institution.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdur-Rahman Abdullah, charged the pioneer cohort to combine academic excellence with upright character, stressing that education must go beyond intellectual attainment.

He described matriculation as more than a ceremonial exercise, noting that it represents the university’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals grounded in both scholarship and ethics.

“True education requires a balance between intellectual development and sound moral character,” Abdullah said, urging the students to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to research throughout their academic journey.

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Also speaking, the Chancellor of the university and Amir (National Head) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Alatoye, described the matriculating students as trailblazers who would shape the institution’s legacy.

“You will be remembered as those who set the standard—academically, socially, and morally,” he said, challenging them to embrace excellence and discipline.

The pioneer students, who took the matriculation oath in a unified voice, were admitted into various departments including Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, and Accounting, reflecting the university’s focus on science, computing, and management disciplines.

The event also featured the inauguration of the Parents Consultative Assembly, aimed at fostering closer engagement between the university and parents, as well as strengthening stakeholder collaboration.

Established to provide quality education rooted in strong ethical values, Minaret University said the maiden matriculation signals the beginning of its vision to raise a generation of responsible and globally competitive graduates.

Minaret University sets academic, moral tone as pioneer students take historic oath

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

The University of Ilesa, Osun State, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 97 academic programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, in what officials describe as a major milestone in the institution’s rapid transformation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held on campus to mark the university’s progress since its upgrade from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, in April 2023.

He said the institution has also recorded significant growth in student population, rising from fewer than 1,000 students at inception to over 15,000 within three years.

Professor Asaolu explained that the approved programmes cut across multiple faculties and disciplines, including Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education.

He added that the NUC has also approved the commencement of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, although final clearance is still being awaited from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before full admission into the programme begins.

According to him, “40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC,” describing the achievement as remarkable for a young institution.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced that a new Faculty of Technology has been established, with programmes in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering already underway.

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He said the institution’s expansion reflects growing public confidence in its academic standards and infrastructure development.

Professor Asaolu revealed that the university has successfully recovered 15 acres of land and 24 housing units previously encroached upon by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He said the recovered land will be used for the development of a Faculty of Technology complex.

He also disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the University of Ilesa Teaching Hospital to support clinical training and improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university inherited dilapidated infrastructure at take-off, including obsolete buildings, low student population, and poor environmental conditions, but said it has now recorded a “significant turnaround.”

He credited key stakeholders including TETFund, NELFUND, the Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Ijesa community, Zenith Bank Plc, and other donors for supporting ongoing development projects across the campus.

Professor Asaolu highlighted several infrastructural achievements, including an 18-hole golf course that recently hosted the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) 15th Qualifying School Seminar.

On academic reforms, he said the university has made programmes in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture tuition-free, while staff wards enjoy a 50 per cent tuition discount to encourage professionalism in teaching.

He added that UNILESA has established an Integrated Teaching and Research Farm featuring a cattle ranch, fish ponds, poultry facilities, and agro-processing units, designed to provide practical training for students.

Students are also receiving hands-on vocational training in 13 skill areas, including solar energy installation, Adire textile production, digital content creation, and agribusiness.

On staff welfare, the Vice-Chancellor praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for resolving long-standing labour issues, including the conversion of over 300 temporary staff into permanent positions and the payment of more than ₦3 billion in outstanding allowances to staff, retirees, and families of deceased workers.

He also commended the governor for approving the reconstruction of access roads within the university, which had reportedly been in poor condition for nearly two decades.

Professor Asaolu said students of the institution have continued to excel in academics, sports, and professional examinations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where some students have already progressed significantly.

He further noted that the university has hosted international conferences, its first inaugural lecture in March 2026, and a Distinguished Personality Lecture delivered by Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service.

Despite the progress, he identified challenges such as inadequate student accommodation, unstable electricity supply, and a shortage of lecture halls and laboratories.

“We are encouraged by the progress recorded thus far and are determined to sustain and surpass it,” he said, appreciating all stakeholders involved in the development of the institution.

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine