As preparations intensify for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to candidates to avoid all forms of examination malpractice.
The Registrar of the Board, Ishaq Oloyede, urged candidates to uphold integrity, stressing that success can only be achieved through hard work and genuine preparation.
Speaking during a press briefing, Oloyede cautioned candidates against engaging in fraudulent practices such as impersonation, result falsification, and patronising exam fraudsters. According to him, such offences attract severe penalties, including prosecution and cancellation of results.
“There is no shortcut to success; the only path is through hard work,” he said, adding that malpractice could permanently damage candidates’ academic futures.
The registrar revealed that the Board had already prosecuted more than five candidates involved in malpractice during the 2025 UTME, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance on examination fraud.
He further disclosed that JAMB has deployed advanced technological systems capable of detecting malpractice in real time, noting that the Board would not entertain any appeals for leniency from offenders.
For the 2026 exercise, scheduled to commence on April 16, over 2.2 million candidates are expected to sit for the examination nationwide. Oloyede assured that adequate measures have been put in place to guarantee a transparent, fair, and credible process.
He also called on parents, guardians, and school authorities to guide candidates appropriately and discourage them from engaging with individuals or groups claiming to boost UTME scores.
JAMB reiterated that candidates must meet the required entry qualifications, including possessing the West African Senior School Certificate issued by the West African Examinations Council or its equivalent from the National Examination Council.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment, Oloyede stressed that maintaining the integrity of the examination remains critical to sustaining the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
As the UTME draws closer, the Board urged candidates to remain disciplined, focus on their studies, and avoid any dishonest practices, noting that diligence and integrity remain the surest path to success.
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