Nigeria UTME 2026: Ebonyi candidates praise improvements but call for more test centres

Candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Ebonyi State say the process marks a significant improvement, reflecting long-standing calls for reform of Nigeria’s entrance examinations.

The exam is organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which conducts the UTME for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.

Despite positive feedback, candidates have urged the board to expand access by approving at least one Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in each local government area. They say this would ease the burden on candidates from rural communities, many of whom travel long distances to urban centres to sit the exam.

Official figures indicate that Ebonyi has one of the lowest numbers of registered candidates nationwide—second only to Zamfara State—with about 19,000 participants this year. The state currently has 12 accredited CBT centres, nine of them in the capital, Abakaliki, and three in Afikpo Local Government Area.

Some candidates reported logistical challenges linked to distance. Josephine Agbor said that although the examination process was commendable, several candidates missed their sessions due to travel constraints. Another candidate, Gift Chuba, described the exercise as smooth and professionally conducted, with no operational difficulties.

Centre operators also reported a largely hitch-free process. Benjamin Nwoke, who manages a CBT facility in Abakaliki, said there had been no technical issues since the exams began, adding that candidates had complied with all guidelines.

The 2026 UTME is expected to conclude on 25 April, with anticipation building among the roughly 2.2 million candidates registered nationwide over the outcome of the examination.