The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially announced the commencement of the registration process for the 2024/2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry programmes. Prospective candidates aspiring to secure admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions—including universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions—can now initiate their application procedures. As one of the most critical milestones in the Nigerian educational calendar, the release of the JAMB form sets into motion months of rigorous academic preparation for hundreds of thousands of secondary school graduates and equivalent qualification holders nationwide.
Key Registration Deadlines and Strict Timeline Protocols
The window for the procurement of e-PINS for both domestic and foreign candidates opened on Monday, January 15, 2024, and is scheduled to close strictly on Monday, February 26, 2024. Educational authorities and JAMB leadership have repeatedly emphasized that there will be no extension of time for the sale of UTME application documents. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to complete their profile creation and e-PIN acquisition well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute network congestion, banking bottlenecks, or system downtime that typically plagues the final days of registration portals.
Comprehensive Entry Requirements and Academic Qualifications
To successfully register for the 2024/2025 academic session, candidates must meet the foundational general entry requirements stipulated by the board. Admission seekers gunning for first-degree programs, National Diplomas, National Innovation Diplomas, or the Nigeria Certificate in Education must possess a minimum of five O-Level credit passes, which must mandatorily include Mathematics and English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Comprehensive details regarding specific institutional requirements, subject combinations, and course prerequisites are contained within the official JAMB eBrochure. Every candidate is provided access to this crucial compendium through accredited Computer-Based Test centres and JAMB state offices during the physical registration phase. Furthermore, candidates must note that irrespective of their intended course of study, all UTME applicants will be tested on a general reading text, specifically "Sweet Sixteen" by Bolaji Abdullahi. Direct Entry candidates, on the other hand, are mandated to read "The Last Days at Forcados High School" by A.H. Mohammed.
Step-by-Step Profile Registration and NIN Integration
In alignment with federal directives and national security policies, the integration of the National Identification Number remains a mandatory prerequisite for the 2024 JAMB registration exercise. Candidates must utilize a unique personal cell phone number—restricted strictly to one candidate per phone number—to generate a profile code.
The profile creation process requires applicants to send a text message containing the word "NIN" followed by a single space, and then their 11-digit National Identification Number to the designated shortcode, 55019. Upon successful verification, a unique 10-character profile code is sent back to the candidate’s phone number. This code remains tied to the applicant’s identity and will be utilized across all communications, examinations, and admission processes for the 2024 session.
For individuals who encounter typographical errors during profile creation, JAMB has provided a self-help text mechanism. Candidates can correct a mistake in their name by sending the correct format (Surname, First Name, Middle Name) to 55019 from the registered mobile number. Similarly, lost profile codes can be retrieved instantly by texting the word "RESEND" to 55019.
Financial Structure and Approved ePIN Procurement Channels
The official registration fee for the 2024 UTME application documents remains pegged at ₦7,700, with an additional fee of ₦500 allocated for the mandatory recommended reading text. To decentralize the purchase process and eliminate black-market exploitation, JAMB has authorized a wide array of payment channels and ePIN vending outlets.
Approved financial institutions include eleven participating commercial banks—such as Access Bank, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, FCMB, Jaiz Bank, Polaris Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, Union Bank, and Unity Bank—alongside designated microfinance banks like Trust MFB, Zazzau MFB, Obeledun MFB, and Regent MFB. Mobile money operators and online payment gateways, including OPay, Interswitch/Quickteller, Remita, Paga, e-Transact, and Pocket Moni, are fully integrated to process transactions securely.
Furthermore, candidates can utilize ATMs of participating banks, USSD codes by dialing 5656*55019#, point-of-sale terminals located at JAMB state offices and accredited CBT centres, or the official JAMB web portal. For international applicants residing outside Nigeria, registration forms are available at designated Nigerian embassies located in Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Beau, Cotonou, Jeddah, Johannesburg, and London, with an administrative fee fixed at $30 or its local equivalent.
CBT Centre Registration and Strict Compliance Measures
Once the ePIN has been successfully procured and delivered to the candidate’s registered mobile number, the applicant must proceed to any JAMB-accredited Computer-Based Test centre to complete the physical registration process. The board maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding unauthorized registration outlets; any candidate who registers outside an accredited CBT centre or state office will be promptly identified and disqualified from the examination.
At the accredited CBT centre, candidates are required to present their ePIN and profile code. The system automatically retrieves the candidate’s biodata as initially inputted during the profile creation phase. Applicants will then provide detailed biographical information, select their order of preference for institutions and programs, indicate their choice of examination towns, and complete biometric capturing—which involves capturing all ten fingers and taking a live photograph. Scanned or stapled passport photographs are strictly prohibited.
To protect candidates from extortion, JAMB has reiterated that CBT centres are only permitted to charge a maximum service fee of ₦700 for registration. Centres are strictly barred from conducting direct cash transactions with candidates; instead, financial institutions are stationed directly at the CBT premises to handle fee collections transparently. Candidates subjected to overcharging are strongly encouraged to report the offending centres directly to the board for immediate sanctions.
Examination Logistics, Mock Tests, and Prohibitive Regulations
The 2024 UTME examinations will take place at designated centres within the candidate’s chosen examination towns. JAMB has emphasized that it does not arbitrarily post candidates to examination towns outside their explicit selections during registration. However, because examination slots within specific towns are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, candidates are advised to complete their registrations early before spaces in their preferred locations are exhausted.
To ease candidates into the computerized testing environment, the board has announced the continuation of the optional UTME Mock Examination. Interested applicants can indicate their participation during the registration phase. The mock exam serves as a diagnostic tool to help students familiarize themselves with the CBT interface, time management, and computer navigation under simulated examination conditions.
On examination days, strict security protocols will be enforced across all CBT locations. Candidates and officials are strictly barred from bringing wristwatches, mobile phones, electronic devices, or unauthorized writing instruments into the examination halls. Only ordinary HB pencils are permitted. These stringent measures are designed to preserve the integrity of the examination, curb malpractice, and ensure a fair, transparent evaluation process for all Nigerian youths seeking higher education.
