JAMB Takes UTME to Canada, Bringing Nigeria’s University Admission Closer to the Diaspora

For Nigerians living in Canada who look to Nigerian universities for their higher education, the distance between home and an important part of the admission process could soon become much smaller.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is planning to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa in 2027, creating an examination point in North America for eligible Nigerians seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The planned facility will be JAMB’s first UTME centre in Canada and is expected to serve candidates not only in Canada but also eligible Nigerians in other parts of North America. Its introduction means prospective students in the region would no longer have to travel to Nigeria solely to sit for the examination.

The announcement followed a visit by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. The examination board subsequently disclosed the development through its official social media platforms.

For Nigerians living abroad but maintaining educational and professional ties to the country, access to Nigeria’s tertiary education system can involve practical hurdles created simply by distance. JAMB says the Ottawa facility is intended to address part of that challenge by bringing the UTME closer to the communities it serves.

“The proposed centre will make it easier for Nigerians in the diaspora to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination,” the board said.

JAMB also sees the initiative as part of a focused effort to extend the reach of Nigerian tertiary education internationally and strengthen the connection between Nigerians overseas and the country’s education system.

The planned centre could also provide a platform for greater awareness of Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions among Nigerians living outside the country, reinforcing the possibility of pursuing higher education in Nigeria even while residing abroad.

Operations are expected to begin in 2027, with Ottawa serving as the base for eligible candidates across Canada and other parts of North America.

The development adds a new dimension to the relationship between Nigeria’s education system and its diaspora, making one of the country’s most important admission examinations accessible from considerably closer to where many prospective candidates now live.

JAMB summed up the change simply: “For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home.”