By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
Confusion surrounding reports that candidates seeking admission into education and agriculture-related courses no longer need to sit for the Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been clarified, with findings showing that the Federal Government did not announce a blanket exemption covering all applicants.
The misunderstanding followed a post by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on X which stated: “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
The message quickly gained traction online, generating more than 1.4 million views and thousands of reposts, with many Nigerians interpreting it to mean all students pursuing education and agriculture courses would bypass UTME.
However, a fact-check by TheCable Fact Check� found that the policy announcement was narrower than widely portrayed.
The development traces back to the 2026 admission policy meeting held in Abuja and presided over by Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education. During his address, Alausa announced targeted reforms intended to encourage enrollment in teacher training and agriculture-related programmes.
He said: “Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four (4) credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.”
The minister added: “However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS.”
He further stated: “In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.”
Available policy documents reportedly show that the exemption only applies to candidates pursuing National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education and selected non-technology agricultural National Diploma (ND) programmes in polytechnics and colleges of agriculture.
The policy does not cover university applicants studying education or agriculture-related disciplines.
The clarification is significant because JAMB, as a regulatory admissions body under the Federal Ministry of Education, does not independently create major national education policies. Such decisions are usually initiated and announced through the ministry and relevant statutory institutions before implementation by JAMB.
Hours after the admission meeting, the education ministry also restated the limited nature of the reform, noting that “qualified NCE candidates and selected agricultural ND applicants will now be exempted from writing UTME,” while emphasizing that admissions would still pass through JAMB’s Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).
The clarification may calm anxiety among candidates and parents who feared sweeping changes to Nigeria’s admission structure. It also highlights how incomplete or loosely worded online announcements can rapidly trigger nationwide misconceptions, particularly around highly sensitive issues such as university admissions.
For students preparing for admission into universities, the implication remains unchanged: UTME requirements still apply unless officially stated otherwise through specific policy channels.
