The Federal Ministry of Education has officially dismissed reports circulating on social media that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is no longer mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the reports as "malicious," "baseless," and "entirely fabricated".

JAMB remains the only legally recognized body empowered to conduct entrance examinations and coordinate admissions into all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.

The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) continues to be a prerequisite for undergraduate admissions.

The misinformation appears to have misinterpreted the "Renewed Hope in Action" initiative, which focuses on streamlining O`Level entry requirements to expand access to education, but does not eliminate JAMB’s role.

As of February 21, 2026, JAMB registration is ongoing and is scheduled to close on February 28, 2026. The 2026 UTME examinations are slated to hold from April 15 to April 25, 2026.

The Ministry has urged prospective students and parents to disregard any information not from official channels.