The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been in the spotlight again this week as it unveiled a number of significant announcements for the 2025/2026 academic session. From the release of the UTME cut-off marks to the revelation of this year’s top-performing candidates, here’s everything you need to know about the recent developments that are shaping the future of tertiary education in Nigeria.
1. JAMB Sets 150 as University Cut-Off Mark for 2025
In a policy meeting held on July 8, 2025, JAMB, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector, announced the official UTME cut-off marks:
150 for admission into universities
140 for colleges of nursing
100 for polytechnics and colleges of education
These marks serve as the minimum threshold for institutions, but universities may choose to set higher benchmarks based on competitiveness.
Why It Matters: This new cutoff allows more candidates access to tertiary education opportunities while still allowing institutions to raise standards where needed.
2. Age Restriction: You Must Be 16 or Older to Gain Admission
The federal government has enforced a policy requiring candidates to be at least 16 years old by August 31, 2025, to be eligible for university admission.
This decision was reaffirmed by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and is automatically regulated by JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). The move aims to ensure that students entering higher institutions are mature enough to handle academic and social responsibilities.
“It’s a step toward aligning Nigeria’s education system with global standards,” said Dr. Alausa.
3. Meet the Genius: Okeke Chinedu Tops 2025 UTME with 375!
JAMB released a list of the top 10 candidates in the 2025 UTME—and the results are nothing short of impressive.
Top Scorer:
Name: Okeke Chinedu Christian
Score: 375/400
State: Anambra
Intended Course: Engineering
Other candidates in the top 10 scored between 372 and 374, mostly applying to engineering, medicine, and technology-related courses.
What’s more remarkable is that over 80% of the total candidates scored above 160, making this year’s performance the best in six years.
4. JAMB Introduces Ranking System on Result Slips
To further promote transparency and reduce fraud, JAMB has now included a national ranking system on each candidate’s result slip.
For example:
A candidate who scored 370 was ranked 16th nationwide
A score of 320 was ranked 5,806th
This system helps students and institutions place scores in context and prevents score falsification.
This is a game-changer for Nigerian students as it allows better self-assessment and reduces fraudulent admission claims.
5. JAMB Releases Mop-Up Results
In an effort to give fair chances to all candidates, JAMB conducted a mop-up exam on June 28, 2025, for those who missed the main UTME due to biometric or technical issues.
The results of over 11,000 candidates who sat for the mop-up exam have now been released. Affected candidates can check their results via the JAMB portal or by SMS.
6. Top Scorer Under Scrutiny for Dual Enrollment
In a twist, top scorer Okeke Chinedu Christian is currently under investigation. Reports suggest he may have registered for the UTME despite being enrolled in an existing university program, which violates JAMB’s admission policy.
JAMB has promised full transparency and a thorough investigation into the matter.
Final Thoughts
The latest announcements from JAMB indicate a strong push toward fairness, transparency, and quality control in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. From realistic cut-off marks to national rankings and strict admission age enforcement, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for students across the country.
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