JAMB announces UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, set to launch in 2027
JAMB announced on Monday (Oct 5) that it is working to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The centre will allow eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the UTME without having to travel to Nigeria solely for the exam, according to a tweet from JAMB Registrar Segun Aina after his visit to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
JAMB said the initiative will provide "more access" and reduce barriers for Nigerians in the diaspora seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. It also strengthens the connection between the diaspora and Nigeria’s education system. The board already runs UTME centres in the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Côte d’Ivoire.
For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, JAMB and stakeholders set the minimum admission benchmark at 150 for universities and 100 for polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education and colleges of agriculture. More than two million candidates sat the UTME this year. Prospective candidates in the diaspora should monitor further announcements for registration details once the Ottawa centre opens.