Board extends deadline after 23 universities fail to submit Post-UTME scores on time
Abuja, Nigeria – JAMB has pushed back the final assessment date for underage candidates who took the 2025 UTME. Why? Twenty-three universities completely missed the September 15 deadline for submitting their Post-UTME screening scores. The JAMB assessment delay now affects 135 students scattered across 71 institutions.
Universities Drop the Ball Despite NECO Results Being Out
Here’s what seems particularly frustrating about this whole situation: NECO already released the 2025 SSCE results on September 17. Yet 23 universities still couldn’t get their act together to submit Post-UTME scores by the September 15 deadline.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, who handles public communications for JAMB, confirmed the extension in what was probably a diplomatically worded statement. “The adjustment became necessary after 23 of the 71 universities chosen by the affected candidates failed to submit their Post-UTME screening scores by the initial deadline,” he explained.
The numbers tell an interesting story. University of Lagos leads the pack with 39 affected candidates – that’s a significant chunk. Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja has 18 students waiting, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka affects 15 candidates. University of Abuja has 12, and University of Uyo rounds out the top five with 9 candidates.
You have to wonder what these institutions were doing with all that time.
What Makes Underage Candidates Different?
Underage UTME candidates are essentially academic prodigies, kids who take the university entrance exam before hitting the standard 16-year minimum age. Most of us can barely remember being that academically ambitious at 14 or 15.
These students don’t just walk into university like everyone else. There’s a whole extra layer of evaluation that goes beyond just scoring well on the UTME. Universities need to assess whether these younger students are actually ready for the social and academic pressures of university life, and honestly, that’s probably a good thing.
The process involves multiple stages: your standard UTME score, then Post-UTME screening by the universities you choose, followed by a final evaluation by JAMB itself. It’s supposed to ensure that if a 15-year-old gets admitted, they can actually handle living in a dorm, managing their own schedule, and keeping up with 18-year-old classmates.
Right now, 135 of these exceptional young students are stuck waiting because their chosen universities apparently needed more time to do assessments they have had months to complete.
JAMB Isn’t Playing Around This Time
The examination board appears to be getting tired of universities treating deadlines as suggestions. They’ve sent formal letters demanding immediate submission of those missing screening scores, and the tone suggests this isn’t just a gentle reminder.
What’s interesting is how JAMB is using this as an opportunity to remind everyone about the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). It’s like they’re saying, “Look, we have rules for a reason.”
The deadlines moving forward are pretty clear: public universities need to submit their recommended candidates by September 30, 2025. Private universities get a bit more breathing room until October 31, 2025.
But here’s where it gets serious, the final deadlines are October 30 for public universities and November 31 for private ones. These dates came out of a policy meeting chaired by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, so there’s ministerial weight behind them.
Real Impact on Real Students
Think about being one of these 135 kids for a moment. You’re already dealing with being younger than your peers, you’ve proven you’re academically gifted enough to take the UTME early, and now you’re stuck in limbo because universities can’t meet basic administrative deadlines.
Parents are understandably anxious about this. Late admission decisions create a domino effect, accommodation becomes harder to secure, course registration gets complicated, and there’s less time to prepare mentally for what’s already going to be a challenging transition.
Educational consultants point out something that makes sense when you think about it: these younger students often need extra support systems. When admissions get delayed, it cuts into the already limited time available for these preparations.
This whole situation also highlights what many of us who’ve dealt with Nigerian institutions know too well – coordination between different educational bodies can be… let’s say “challenging.”
JAMB’s Growing Impatience with Non-Compliance
Over the past few years, JAMB seems to have developed less tolerance for universities that treat admission procedures casually. This warning to defaulting universities feels like part of a broader pattern of trying to bring more order to what can sometimes feel like a chaotic system.
The CAPS system represents their attempt to centralize and standardize university admissions across Nigeria. Universities that consistently ignore CAPS requirements might find themselves facing sanctions or even exclusion from future admission cycles – though it remains to be seen how aggressively JAMB will actually enforce these consequences.
Recent enforcement efforts have included monitoring quota compliance and verifying candidate credentials. Whether this latest deadline drama will result in actual penalties for the 23 defaulting universities is something we’ll have to wait and see.
What Happens Next?
JAMB insists the overall admission timeline for 2025/2026 remains on track, despite these hiccups. They’re continuing to process regular admissions while sorting out this mess with the underage candidates.
Universities are now scrambling to complete their outstanding assessments before they face whatever consequences JAMB has in mind. The education ministry’s involvement suggests there might be some administrative repercussions for continued non-compliance.
For the 135 affected students and their families, JAMB is essentially asking for patience while promising that everyone eligible will get fair consideration once universities finally submit their paperwork.
It’s a reminder of just how complex Nigeria’s higher education admission system really is, and how many moving parts need to work together for things to go smoothly. When they don’t, it’s usually the students who end up waiting.
