Low UTME Score? Not the End: Hidden Admission Pathways Nigerian Students Ignore
Official logo of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the agency in charge of UTME in Nigeria By Victor Olubiye As the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) winds down, thousands of candidates across Nigeria are already battling anxiety over low scores. But education experts say one truth many students overlook is this: a low UTME score does not automatically mean the end of their university dreams. Every year, millions sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, a central requirement for admission into tertiary institutions. Yet, despite its importance, it is not the only pathway into higher education. Candidates writing the UTME examination in a CBT Centre In reality, several alternative admission routes exist—many of which are officially recognized by universities and polytechnics across the country. One of the most popular alternatives is the JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board) programme. This one-year foundat...