1.6m candidates to sit for 2023 UTME as JAMB ends registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the registration for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) has ended after a one-week extension by the Board.

The Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of the Board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known via a statement issued on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that JAMB granted the extension to accommodate candidates who could not register for the 2023 UTME within January 14 to February 14, 2023, due to recent developments in the country.

Benjamin said at the close of the registration, about 1.6 million candidates had successfully registered for the 2023 UTME.

”This number does not include the Direct Entry component of the exercise which had started on Monday, 20th February, 2023 before it was put on hold on Tuesday, 21st February, 2023.

”The board registrar’s monitoring team, which has gone round the country, was in Nasarawa and Delta states on the final day of the exercise to oversee its conclusion.

”In Asaba, Delta State, the team visited Trinity Innovation Hub CBT Centre; Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku CBT Centre 1 and 2; Delta State Library CBT and others.

”It was, however, remarkable that none of these centres have any candidates waiting to be registered, indicating that almost all candidates who desires to register for the exercise have done so,” the JAMB spokesperson said.

Benjamin further stated that same situation was replicated in many centres in Nasarawa State, noting that a few candidates were seen at all the centres a day to the closing date.

“From every indication, this year’s exercise is shaping up to be the smoothest the board has ever had.

”However, based on reports received from the various monitoring teams across the country, the board will review its SIM number swap policy.

”This is because, it will now require the Telcos to confirm that the old SIM being put forward for swapping previously belonged to the applicant but had been issued to another person,” he added.

The JAMB spokesperson noted that this would, therefore, preclude the possibility of a `SIM welcome back’ before such swapping would be approved.

The Star

Segun Ojo