UTME 2026 Begins : Massive turnout as candidates storm CBT centres across Nigeria

The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam UTME has officially started across Nigeria today.

More than 2.2 million students are taking part in the examination, which is one of the biggest school-related tests in the country.

The UTME is organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). It is an important exam for students who want to gain admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.

The examination will run for seven days, from April 16 to April 22, 2026. Each day is divided into several sessions so that all candidates can be properly managed. This helps reduce crowding at the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and makes the process smoother.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, addressed exam officials in a virtual meeting before the examination began.

He urged them to be highly committed, disciplined, and professional in their duties. According to him, the success of the UTME depends largely on how well the officials perform during the exercise.

He also praised technical staff, support workers, and service providers for their efforts during the mock examination conducted earlier.

However, he noted that some of the challenges recorded during the mock test were caused by poor inspection and evaluation of some examination centres.

To encourage better performance, he announced that teams who perform well during the examination process will receive incentives. This includes rewards for those who handle examination materials properly and submit reports on time.

JAMB also repeated its strong warning against examination malpractice. Candidates were advised not to engage in cheating or bring prohibited items into examination halls. The board stressed that it has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of exam fraud.

To ensure fairness and credibility, advanced technology has been introduced.

This includes biometric verification systems, which confirm candidates’ identities using fingerprints, as well as real-time monitoring tools to detect and prevent cheating during the exam.

If a candidate’s biometric data cannot be verified, they will not be allowed to continue immediately.

Instead, they will be rescheduled to write the exam at another approved centre.
Across the country, about 966 Computer-Based Test centres are being used.

Each centre is required to meet strict conditions such as having functional computers, stable internet connection, and properly trained staff to supervise candidates.

Reports from monitoring centres showed that the first session of the exam experienced only a slight delay.

For example, a session scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. started around 8:40 a.m., showing only a minor disruption in the process.

Overall, the UTME remains one of the largest and most coordinated education exercises in Nigeria, involving millions of students, thousands of staff, and a large technology system working together to ensure a smooth and fair examination process.