FG Waives UTME as JAMB Opens NCE, Agriculture Programme Registration

The Federal Government has approved a new admission pathway allowing eligible candidates to gain entry into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and non-technological agricultural programmes in polytechnics without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Following the policy decision, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the commencement of registration for prospective candidates seeking admission into the affected programmes across the country.

Under the new arrangement, candidates interested in NCE programmes offered by Colleges of Education and non-technological agricultural programmes in polytechnics are not required to write the annual UTME before applying for admission.

JAMB said eligible applicants can complete their registration at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) located within Colleges of Education or at any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) nationwide.

The Board, however, said candidates must possess the required O’Level credits to qualify for registration.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by JAMB's Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

According to the Board, the registration exercise follows the Federal Government's decision to waive the UTME requirement for candidates seeking admission into NCE and non-technological agricultural programmes.

The policy represents a significant adjustment to the conventional tertiary admission process and is intended to create an alternative route for qualified candidates seeking to pursue careers in teaching and agriculture-related fields.

JAMB explained that candidates seeking admission under the new arrangement are only required to present their O’Level credentials at designated registration centres to complete the process.

Applicants may visit an Institutional Professional Registration Centre located in a College of Education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre to register for the eligible programmes.

The Board urged prospective candidates who meet the requirements to take advantage of the opportunity by visiting designated centres promptly to begin and complete their registration.

JAMB said it had put in place an admission process designed to ensure that only qualified candidates are admitted into the programmes despite the removal of the UTME requirement.

The Board stressed that the policy would not compromise academic standards, maintaining that its admission framework would continue to provide appropriate checks to ensure that candidates admitted into the programmes meet the necessary requirements.

The new arrangement also provides an opportunity for candidates who already participated in the 2026 UTME but have since decided to pursue NCE or eligible non-technological agricultural programmes.

JAMB said such candidates can convert their existing applications at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre or JAMB Professional Registration Centre.

The Board said the conversion can be completed at no additional cost, providing an opportunity for candidates to change their admission pathway without incurring another registration fee.

The option could particularly benefit candidates who initially applied for other tertiary programmes but have now developed an interest in teacher education or agricultural training.

JAMB said the UTME waiver is aimed at expanding access to teacher education and non-technological agricultural programmes, two areas considered important to Nigeria's human capital development and economic growth.

The policy is expected to make it easier for qualified candidates to pursue NCE programmes and agricultural courses without the additional hurdle of sitting for the annual UTME.

Teacher education remains a key component of the country's education system, while agriculture continues to be viewed as an important sector for food security, employment creation and economic diversification.

By creating a more accessible admission route into the two areas, the government is seeking to encourage more qualified young Nigerians to consider careers in teaching and agriculture.

However, JAMB maintained that increased access must go hand in hand with quality assurance.

The Board said its admission process would continue to ensure that only candidates who satisfy the required academic conditions are admitted, even as the UTME requirement is waived for the specified programmes.

Prospective applicants seeking admission through the new pathway are expected to have the required O’Level credentials before proceeding with registration.

Candidates can register at designated Institutional Professional Registration Centres in Colleges of Education or at JAMB Professional Registration Centres across the country.

Those who already sat for the 2026 UTME and now wish to pursue eligible NCE or non-technological agricultural programmes can also convert their applications at the designated centres without paying an additional fee.

JAMB urged interested candidates to make use of the opportunity and complete their registration through the approved channels.

The Board's announcement effectively creates a separate admission route for eligible candidates interested in NCE and non-technological agricultural programmes, while retaining the requirement that applicants meet the relevant academic standards.

The move is expected to broaden access to tertiary-level training in education and agriculture and potentially increase enrolment in sectors that are central to Nigeria's long-term development.