By Milcah Tanimu
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced several significant updates for the 2024/2025 admissions process following a policy meeting with stakeholders on July 18, 2024. These changes are designed to streamline procedures, enhance transparency, and ensure compliance with established standards.
Starting from the 2025 admission cycle, JAMB will only admit candidates who are at least 18 years old, marking a departure from the previous policy that allowed 16-year-olds to gain admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. This change will be widely advertised beginning in November 2024, coinciding with the commencement of registration for the 2025 examinations.
In a bid to reduce administrative burdens and minimize errors, admission officers will now download candidates’ O-Level data directly from the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). This integration eliminates the need for students to submit their results separately during the admission screening process.
Tertiary institutions will no longer request biometric data or photographs from candidates during admission screenings. This directive aims to protect candidate privacy and streamline the verification process.
JAMB has set a maximum fee of ₦2000 for Post-UTME screening exercises. This cap is intended to prevent the exploitation of candidates and ensure that the screening process remains accessible to all, regardless of their financial background.
Candidates wishing to correct any personal or academic data for the 2024 JAMB must do so by October 31, 2024. This deadline allows sufficient time for necessary adjustments in preparation for the 2025 JAMB registration.
JAMB will no longer condone or regularize illegal admissions beyond the 2020 set. All admissions for the 2024 cycle and beyond will be conducted exclusively through CAPS. Admissions processed outside this platform will be considered illegal. Candidates not listed on the national matriculation list will be deemed not to have been admitted by JAMB, and such admissions will be classified as fake, illegal, null, and void, and will not be recognized.
These new guidelines for JAMB admissions reflect the board’s commitment to improving the admissions process in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Compliance with these updates is crucial for ensuring a transparent, efficient, and fair admission process. By adhering to these regulations, JAMB aims to enhance the credibility of the admissions process and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system.
