The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up exercise, paving the way for the next phase of the admission process into tertiary institutions across the country.
The Board announced the development in a statement issued by its Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, candidates who sat for the mop-up examination can now check their results through JAMB’s approved result-checking channels.
JAMB also disclosed that with the release of the mop-up results, it would immediately commence the ranking of candidates ahead of admissions into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions for the 2026 academic session.
The Board said the printing of admission letters is expected to begin before the end of the week.
“Following the successful conclusion of the mop-up exercise and the release of the results, the Board will commence the ranking of candidates. Thereafter, the printing of admission letters is expected to begin before the weekend,” the statement said.
The announcement marks the conclusion of the 2026 UTME examination process for candidates involved in the mop-up exercise and signals the start of the crucial admission stage.
The candidate ranking process is an important part of JAMB’s admission procedure. During this stage, candidates are considered based on their UTME scores, post-UTME performance where applicable, and the admission criteria set by their chosen institutions.
The exercise enables tertiary institutions to determine eligible candidates for admission in line with approved guidelines and carrying capacities.
The mop-up examination was organised by JAMB to provide another opportunity for candidates who were unable to participate in the main UTME for genuine reasons or whose cases required further consideration by the Board.
Over the years, JAMB has used mop-up examinations to address issues arising from technical glitches, verified absentee cases and other exceptional circumstances affecting candidates during the main examination period.
The 2026 UTME had attracted thousands of candidates seeking admission into various tertiary institutions across Nigeria. As in previous years, competition for available admission spaces remains intense, especially in highly sought-after courses such as medicine, law, pharmacy, engineering and accounting.
Following the release of the mop-up results, many candidates are expected to closely monitor updates from both JAMB and their institutions of choice regarding admission requirements and screening processes.
Education stakeholders have consistently advised candidates to regularly check their admission status through official channels and avoid falling victim to fraudsters who claim they can influence admissions.
JAMB has repeatedly warned candidates against dealing with unauthorised persons or cybercafés promising admission assistance for a fee. The Board maintains that admissions are processed transparently through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which allows candidates to monitor and either accept or reject admission offers.
Candidates are therefore encouraged to ensure that their details on the JAMB portal are accurate and to promptly respond to admission notifications once offers are made available.
The Board, in its statement, appreciated candidates, parents, institutions and other stakeholders for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the conduct of the 2026 UTME and the subsequent mop-up exercise.
JAMB said the support received from stakeholders contributed significantly to the smooth completion of the examination process.
“The release of the mop-up results effectively concludes the examination process for candidates who participated in the exercise,” the Board noted.
The examination body also reassured candidates of its commitment to maintaining credibility, fairness and efficiency in the administration of public examinations and the tertiary institution admission process.
With the mop-up exercise now concluded and candidate ranking set to begin, attention has shifted to the admission phase, which will determine the academic future of thousands of Nigerian students seeking placement in higher institutions.
For many candidates and their families, the release of the mop-up results represents both relief and renewed hope as they await the outcome of the admission process in the coming days.