The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the scrapping of special concessions and registration procedures previously extended to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The decision was revealed during a recent meeting of the Board’s management with education commissioners from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to JAMB officials, the concessions, which were initially introduced to assist candidates with albinism in the registration and examination process, had been widely abused. Investigations revealed that a significant number of individuals falsely claimed to be albino to gain undue advantage in the registration process. The Board disclosed that over 7,000 candidates were recorded as albino in the last UTME cycle, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the system.
“The special treatment designed to support candidates with albinism was unfortunately exploited to perpetrate examination malpractice,” a JAMB spokesperson said. “Consequently, all special registration procedures and concessions for these candidates have been discontinued for the 2026 UTME.
This policy change forms part of a broader effort by JAMB to tighten controls and uphold the integrity of the UTME, following irregularities in previous examinations. The Board has also reinforced measures to prevent identity fraud, multiple registrations, and other forms of malpractice.
Candidates with albinism will now be required to follow the standard UTME registration process, just like every other applicant. JAMB emphasizes that the move is aimed at ensuring fairness and equal treatment for all candidates, while preventing the exploitation of special provisions.
The Board has urged all prospective candidates to adhere strictly to registration guidelines and warned that any attempt to manipulate the system could result in sanctions, including disqualification from the examination.
0 Comments