JAMB to Hold UTME in Canada From 2027

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027.

The proposed centre will allow eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria specifically for the examination.

JAMB disclosed the development following a visit by its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.

According to the board, the initiative is designed to make the examination more accessible to Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

JAMB said the Ottawa centre would reduce the cost and inconvenience associated with travelling to Nigeria solely to write the UTME.

The board described the initiative as part of its broader effort to expand access to Nigerian tertiary education globally and strengthen the connection between Nigerians abroad and the country’s education system.

“For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home,” the board said.

JAMB added that the proposed centre would also provide greater opportunities to showcase Nigerian tertiary education internationally and create more pathways for Nigerians in the diaspora who wish to study in Nigeria.

The board said it was currently working towards establishing the examination centre in Ottawa, with operations expected to commence in 2027.

The planned Canadian centre comes as JAMB prepares for further reforms to the UTME and its admission processes under its new leadership.

The board has also announced plans to introduce critical thinking and life skills into the UTME from 2027 as part of efforts to assess competencies beyond conventional subject knowledge.

JAMB said the reforms were aimed at making its examination and admission services more accessible, efficient and responsive to the changing needs of candidates.

The proposed Ottawa centre is expected to serve Nigerians across Canada and other parts of North America who are eligible to take the UTME and intend to pursue tertiary education in Nigeria.