By Derick Peretengboro

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced a new admission process that allows eligible candidates to apply for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and selected non-technological National Diploma (ND) courses in agriculture without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The initiative follows the Federal Government’s approval of a policy designed to boost enrolment in Colleges of Education and encourage greater participation in agriculture-related fields.

Despite the exemption from the UTME, JAMB clarified that all applicants must still complete registration through the board and have their admissions processed using the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). The board said this measure is intended to preserve the integrity and quality of the admission process.

According to the guidelines, the policy covers all accredited NCE programmes offered by Colleges of Education, as well as approved non-technological agricultural ND courses in eligible polytechnics. However, technology-based agricultural programmes, including Agricultural Engineering, remain subject to the conventional UTME admission process.

Prospective candidates are expected to possess at least four relevant O’Level credit passes and present their academic credentials for verification during registration. JAMB stressed that the removal of the UTME requirement does not amount to automatic admission, as all applicants will still undergo screening before being offered placement.

Registration can be completed at Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs) located in Colleges of Education, JAMB Professional Registration Centres, approved Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, or JAMB state offices across the country. Applicants have also been advised to use only authorised centres to avoid falling victim to fraud.

JAMB further announced that candidates who participated in the 2026 UTME but now wish to switch to an eligible NCE or non-technological agricultural ND programme can convert their applications at designated registration centres without paying an additional application fee.

The board maintained that while the new policy provides an alternative pathway into tertiary education, every admission will continue to follow established verification and screening procedures through CAPS before candidates are admitted into their chosen institutions.