JAMB Announces Release of First Batch 2026 UTME Results – Candidates to Check Before Midnight

Akahi News learnt that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially announced the release of results for candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on Thursday, 16th April 2026. The results will be made available today before midnight.

The announcement was made by Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D., OrgExpert and JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, via his official X handle on Friday afternoon. Candidates who wrote the examination on the first day have been anxiously waiting, and now the wait is almost over.

When thousands of young Nigerians sit for a life-determining examination, every hour of waiting feels like an eternity. JAMB has now given them a timeline. Before the clock strikes midnight, many dreams will be realised or deferred.

Official Announcement Coming Soon

Akahi News gathered that Benjamin stated in his post that an official announcement will be made to the public and posted on the same page as soon as the results are available. Candidates are advised to stay tuned to JAMB’s verified communication channels.

“This is to inform all candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026, that their results will be released today before midnight,” Benjamin wrote. “An official announcement will be made to the public and posted on this page as soon as the results are available.”

It was alleged that the release of results in batches is not new to JAMB. The board typically rolls out scores as they are processed, with candidates who wrote on subsequent days receiving their results in the days ahead. But for those who wrote on Thursday, the moment of truth arrives tonight.

Candidates are advised to check their results via the JAMB portal or through the board’s official SMS code. They should beware of fraudulent websites and individuals claiming they can upgrade scores. JAMB does not entertain such practices, and any candidate caught attempting to manipulate results risks disqualification.

Akahi News had earlier reported on the delisting of 23 CBT centres ahead of the 2026 UTME. Candidates who were reassigned to new centres due to that development would have written their examinations at approved locations. Now, they too await their fate.

It is not a child’s play to wait for UTME results. For many candidates, this score determines whether they gain admission into university, polytechnic, or college of education this year. For others, it is the difference between studying their dream course and settling for something else. The stakes could not be higher.

JAMB has not disclosed how many candidates sat for the examination on Thursday. But with over 1.5 million registered for the 2026 UTME nationwide, the first day alone would have seen hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians filing into CBT centres across the country.

Parents are also on edge. Many have invested heavily in registration fees, tutorial classes, and examination preparation materials. A good result brings relief. A poor one brings difficult conversations about next steps.

Fabian Benjamin’s post has already garnered significant engagement—21 reposts, 8 quotes, and 175 likes within hours. That level of interaction shows just how closely candidates and their families are monitoring every update from the board.

As midnight approaches, JAMB’s servers will likely experience heavy traffic. Candidates are advised to be patient and keep trying if the portal is slow. The results will not disappear. They will be there waiting.

For those who score above their chosen institution’s cut-off mark, congratulations. For those who fall short, remember that UTME is not the end of the road. There are other options—remedial programmes, change of institution, or a second attempt next year.

But tonight, none of that matters. Tonight is about the score. Tonight is about checking that portal with trembling fingers and a racing heart. Tonight, thousands of Nigerian youths will take a deep breath and type in their registration numbers.

JAMB has done its part. The results are coming. Now candidates must do theirs: check, accept, and plan their next move.

Key Summary Box

What happened: JAMB announced the release of results for candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16th April 2026. Results will be available before midnight on Friday, 17th April 2026.
Who announced: Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D., OrgExpert and JAMB Public Communication Adviser, made the announcement via his official X handle.
What candidates should do: Await the official announcement and check results via the JAMB portal or official SMS code. Beware of fraudsters offering score upgrades.
What about other candidates: Those who wrote on subsequent days will likely receive their results in the coming days as JAMB releases them in batches.
Why it matters to candidates: UTME scores determine admission into tertiary institutions for the year. The release of results is a critical moment for over 1.5 million registered candidates and their families.
Bottom line: Thursday’s candidates can check their results before midnight. The wait is almost over. May the scores favour the hardworking.