The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cleared the air on the growing confusion surrounding the “No Result Yet” notification received by some candidates, revealing that the development is largely due to the deliberate withholding of results for underage applicants.
In a statement addressing widespread concerns from parents and candidates, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, explained that the board is enforcing its age policy for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which stipulates that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to qualify.
According to him, candidates who fall below the approved age threshold are currently unable to access their results, hence the system-generated “No Result Yet” message that has sparked anxiety nationwide.
Benjamin emphasized that the policy is not new but part of efforts to maintain standards in the country’s admission process. He noted that any deviation from the age requirement is handled strictly under JAMB’s “exceptional candidate” provision.
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Under this special category, underage candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic performance to be considered for admission. Specifically, they are required to score a minimum of 320 in the UTME and achieve at least 80 percent in subsequent screening exercises conducted by their chosen institutions.
He further disclosed that only candidates who meet the 320 benchmark will be shortlisted and invited for additional assessments, in line with prior agreements reached with parents.
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“Until this process is concluded, the results of underage candidates will remain unreleased,” Benjamin stated, urging stakeholders to remain calm and patient.
The board maintained that the measure is aimed at preserving the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system, ensuring that only qualified candidates—whether by age or exceptional merit—are granted access to higher education.
The clarification comes amid a surge of enquiries from worried parents and candidates who had feared technical issues or errors in the result processing system. JAMB reassured the public that the situation is under control and in accordance with established regulations.
