JAMB registers 1.9 million candidates for 2020 UTME — highest since 1978

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has registered over 1.9 million candidates for its 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s head of press and public relations, disclosed this while speaking to the press on Sunday, ahead of the board’s Monday registration deadline.

According to him, the figure represents the highest the board has ever recorded since its inception in 1978, having recorded an estimated 1.8 million candidates in 2019.

“The registration closes on Monday night. As I speak to you, we have registered over 1.9million. That is the highest we have ever had in the 41-year history of the board,” Benjamin explained.

“Right now, we have surpassed the last year’s statistics at 1.8million. That is to tell you that nobody has an excuse for why he or she could not register.

“On the February 18 mock, we have put everything in place. Our workers who are deployed for the exercise are already on the field.

“And as you are aware, the essence of the mock is to test the readiness of our facilities and also give the candidates the opportunity to have a hands-on experience on the computers.”

JAMB had earlier suspended the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for registration of 2020 candidates after many had decried the difficulty they faced undergoing the procedure.

The board also advised candidates to reject admissions not done on its official letter headed paper, warning institutions to stop offering admissions to applicants through their own portals.