JAMB Plans UTME Centre in Ottawa for Nigerians in Canada From 2027

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is planning to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027. The proposed centre is intended to make it easier for Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit the examination without travelling to Nigeria.

JAMB disclosed the plan following a visit by its Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede? [Correction: Prof. Segun Aina], to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. Recent reports confirm that the proposed centre is expected to begin operations in 2027.

JAMB said it is working towards establishing a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to commence in 2027.

The development followed discussions during JAMB Registrar Prof. Segun Aina's visit to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, where the examination board discussed expanding access to UTME for Nigerians living in Canada and the wider North American region.

The proposed centre would allow eligible Nigerians in Canada to take the Nigerian university entrance examination closer to where they live.

JAMB already facilitates UTME registration and examinations outside Nigeria through designated foreign centres. Countries previously covered include the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, The Gambia and Côte d'Ivoire. The Ottawa proposal would therefore expand an existing international examination arrangement rather than create JAMB's first overseas centre.

The announcement also comes as JAMB continues to discuss changes to the UTME, including the planned introduction of critical-thinking and life-skills components from 2027, according to reports from the board's activities in Canada.

For Nigerians in Canada who want to pursue tertiary education in Nigeria, the proposed centre could reduce the logistical difficulty associated with sitting UTME.

Without a nearby examination centre, candidates living abroad may have to make arrangements to travel to a country where JAMB provides an approved centre, depending on the examination arrangements for that year. A dedicated Ottawa centre could provide a more convenient option for eligible candidates in Canada and potentially others in North America.

The move also reflects the growing need for Nigerian public institutions to provide services to citizens living outside the country.

For Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions, easier access to UTME could also make it more practical for qualified Nigerians in the diaspora to seek admission into Nigerian institutions.

However, the proposal does not mean that Canadian universities will begin using UTME for admission. UTME remains part of Nigeria's tertiary admission system.

Key Questions

Is the Ottawa UTME centre already open?

No. The reports describe it as a planned centre expected to commence in 2027. Candidates should therefore wait for JAMB to publish official registration and examination details before making travel or registration decisions.

Who is the centre intended for?

It is primarily intended to provide examination access for Nigerians in Canada and other parts of North America who are eligible to sit UTME for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Is Canada the first foreign location where JAMB conducts UTME?

No. JAMB already has arrangements for candidates in several countries outside Nigeria. The Ottawa proposal would add Canada to that international network.

Does the development change UTME eligibility requirements?

There is no indication that the Ottawa proposal removes or changes JAMB's existing eligibility requirements. Candidates will still have to meet the applicable UTME and admission requirements.

Ottawa is Canada's capital and the location of Nigeria's High Commission. The proposed centre emerged from discussions between JAMB officials and Nigerian diplomatic representatives in Canada.

JAMB's overseas examination arrangements are designed to provide access to Nigerians living outside the country who need to participate in Nigeria's tertiary admission process.

The board's 2026 arrangements included designated foreign centres in a number of countries, showing that international UTME access is already part of its examination system.

The proposed Ottawa centre therefore represents an expansion of that approach into Canada.

The timing is also significant because JAMB has been preparing broader changes to the UTME for 2027. Among the reforms reported by the board is the planned inclusion of critical-thinking and life-skills elements in the examination.

The immediate next step is for JAMB to finalise arrangements for the proposed Ottawa centre and provide official information on its operation.

Details such as the exact location, registration process, examination dates, candidate requirements and whether additional centres will be established elsewhere in North America will need to be confirmed by JAMB before the 2027 examination cycle.

Candidates should rely on official JAMB announcements for those details rather than treating the proposed centre as already operational.

JAMB's planned Ottawa UTME centre could make Nigeria's tertiary admission examination more accessible to eligible Nigerians living in Canada and parts of North America.

The key development to watch is the board's formal implementation of the centre ahead of the 2027 UTME, including the registration arrangements and examination procedures that will apply to candidates abroad.