All universities offering degree programmes through affiliated institutions will now take full responsibility for admitting students into those programmes.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced this in a new advisory aimed at ensuring greater accountability and transparency in the admission process for affiliated institutions across Nigeria.
This policy, first proposed in 2022, had not been fully implemented as universities were initially allowed to decide whether or not to adopt it. Until now, only the University of Ibadan had taken charge of coordinating admissions for its affiliate institutions.
Following a meeting held on Monday, August 18, 2025, JAMB revisited the issue after institutions raised concerns about violations of matriculation guidelines and the current admission structure. Many universities complained that they could not be held accountable for the actions of their affiliate institutions under the previous arrangement.
As a result, JAMB has directed that the earlier proposal—where mother institutions oversee admissions into their affiliated colleges—should now be adopted and implemented by all universities with affiliates.
Under the new process, the Head of each affiliated institution will log into JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to download the list of candidates for each programme. They will then set admission criteria such as minimum UTME scores, post-UTME performance, and other requirements including catchment areas and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS).
After reviewing candidates, the affiliate Head will propose qualified students for admission on CAPS. These proposals will be sent to the Head of the mother university, who will either recommend them to JAMB for approval or decline with reasons.
Once JAMB approves the recommendations, candidates will be notified via email and SMS to either accept or reject the offer of admission. Those who accept can then print their admission letters and access other JAMB services online.
JAMB clarified that while the Head of an affiliated institution can view all recommendations made by the mother institution, they only have “view-only” access and cannot make changes to approved admissions.
All universities serving as mother institutions, along with polytechnics, colleges of education, and other institutions running degree programmes in affiliation with universities, are expected to comply with this new directive.
This move by JAMB is designed to bring order, fairness, and better oversight to admissions conducted through affiliated institutions, ensuring that every candidate’s admission process is properly monitored and approved.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
