The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 UTME results for underage candidates, allowing them to check their performance after the results were previously withheld for further evaluation.
JAMB defines an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as anyone who will be below 16 years old by September 30, 2026.
The Board said the release is primarily intended to allow candidates, parents and guardians to know how the candidates performed in the examination.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number and SIM card used during UTME registration.
JAMB, however, stressed that receiving and viewing the result does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission into a tertiary institution.
According to the Board, the results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes except in cases involving candidates who satisfy the requirements for exceptional consideration.
Under the exceptional admission arrangement, candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and meet the additional conditions set by JAMB and their institutions.
The release follows months of withholding the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME. More than 38,000 underage candidates reportedly registered for the examination.
JAMB had earlier indicated that underage candidates seeking exceptional consideration would be required to meet a higher performance threshold and undergo additional screening before they could be considered for admission.
The Board’s latest decision therefore gives candidates access to their scores while maintaining a distinction between result release and admission eligibility.
Parents and candidates are advised to check the result using the registered phone number and to follow any further instructions issued by JAMB regarding exceptional admission consideration.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
