The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that it will hold its 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions on Monday, May 11, where critical decisions affecting tertiary institution admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session will be taken.
Among the major issues expected to be decided at the meeting is the determination of the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) cut-off marks for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Sunday by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.
According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Plot 688, Institute and Research District, FCC Phase III, Jabi, Abuja.
Benjamin disclosed that key policy directions for the new admission cycle will be unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
He described the annual policy meeting as a major event in Nigeria’s education calendar, where stakeholders deliberate and decide on admission benchmarks, operational guidelines, and procedures for tertiary institutions nationwide.
“The Board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions,” Benjamin said.
He added that the meeting is expected to formally set the direction for the 2026/2027 admission process while reinforcing the importance of strict compliance with approved admission procedures.
“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to, in particular, formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing it on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines,” he stated.
The event will bring together major stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Expected participants include vice-chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics, provosts of colleges of education, registrars, and admission officers from various tertiary institutions.
Representatives of regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission, National Commission for Colleges of Education, and National Board for Technical Education are also expected to attend.
The statement further noted that goodwill messages will be delivered by agencies including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the National Youth Service Corps, among other education stakeholders.
In addition to policy discussions, the event will feature the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M).
The awards initiative is designed to encourage compliance with admission regulations and promote higher standards across Nigeria’s tertiary education institutions.
The annual policy meeting has historically played a decisive role in shaping admission processes across the country, particularly in setting benchmark scores that guide institutions during admission exercises.
Students, parents, and school administrators are expected to closely monitor the outcome of this year’s meeting, as the decisions reached will directly influence admission opportunities for candidates seeking placement in tertiary institutions.
What You Should Know
JAMB’s annual policy meeting is one of the most important events for Nigeria’s education sector because it determines admission benchmarks for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The minimum UTME cut-off marks approved at the meeting often influence admission chances for millions of candidates. Beyond cut-off marks, the meeting also sets operational guidelines institutions must follow during admissions.
This year’s meeting is particularly significant as stakeholders seek to improve transparency, standardisation, and compliance in tertiary admissions while addressing evolving challenges within Nigeria’s higher education system.
