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Registration for 2026 UTME begins tomorrow as JAMB discloses age requirement
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will commence from January 26, and that the deadline is February 28.
The Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this during an interactive session with state Commissioners for Education, in preparation for the UTME exercise in Lagos State.
Speaking on when the 2026 UTME would commence, Oloyede said that Mock and UTME candidates would register first before Direct Entry (DE) candidates.
“The sale of UTME application document, which is the ePIN, will start earlier than commencement of actual registration which is Jan. 19 to Feb. 26. Actual UTME registration period is between Jan. 26 to Feb. 28 at all approved Computer Based Test (CBT) centres.
“The close of mock selection is Feb. 16 while the sale of DE application documents and E-PIN vending will commence on March 2, and close by April 25,” he said, adding that registration would be available at all JAMB offices.
Speaking on underage candidate, Oloyede said that only candidates who would be at least 16 years old by September 30 were eligible to apply for the 2026 UTME.
“Government considers underage candidates under 16 for admission as a rare exception. For 2026 UTME, underage candidates are those who will be less than 16 years old by Sept. 30. They will undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver,” he said.
He added that such a candidate must have scored at least 80 per cent in each of the UTME, A’ level, Post UTME, SSCE and the exceptional candidate assessment.
“The UTME results of the underage candidates will be released only at the conclusion of the complete evaluation process, “he said.
He, however, warned that any candidate found involved in examination malpractices would be disqualified.
“JAMB uncover syndicates during the 2025 UTME who specialise in identity manipulation. Part of the manipulation includes the use of multiple NINs by a single candidate for double registration, impersonation, or any form of identity manipulation.
“Any candidate found to be involved in multiple registrations shall have all associated registrations nullified. They shall be disqualified from the examination and admission processes, “he said.
JAMB also disclosed that it has screened a total of 924 CBT centres across the country ahead of the 2026 UTME.
According to Oloyede, the centres will go through the final test before the final accreditation to participate in the 2026 UTME registration and examination.
“Prior to commencement of registration exercise, the board conducts accreditation exercise, to check the suitability of each CBT centre, for the conduct of its examination.
“A rigorous accreditation exercise of the CBT centres had been carried out for the 2026 UTME.
“Members of the accreditation team included the Chief External Examiners (vice chancellors, Rectors and Provosts), Technical Advisors, JAMB State Coordinators, and JAMB Technical Officers,” he said.
Oloyede said the 924 centres would go through the final test before final accreditation in order to participate in the 2026 UTME registration and examination.
He added that the purpose of the meeting was to sustain stakeholders’ collaboration with commissioners for education to ensure hitch-free registration and conduct of the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry (DE).
“It is to also share JAMB’s vision, policies, and strategies for the 2026 exercise, including new measures to strengthen integrity and efficiency.
“It is to further leverage state platforms and networks to support effective public sensitisation and information dissemination to candidates and stakeholders.
“The meeting is also to obtain constructive inputs from commissioners to refine plans and improve operational outcomes, recognising their critical role in grassroots engagement.
“Also, it is to strengthen joint efforts to curb examination malpractice and other unwholesome practices, “he said.
This is Chukuku, along Kuje – Gwagwalada road, Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
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The husband of a woman accused of killing their two-year-old son stood by her in court on Thursday as she pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.
Corie Walsh, 40, appeared briefly before a judge on September 24 during a preliminary hearing in the case involving the death of her son, Barrett Walsh.
Walsh appeared in a bright red jail uniform with her hair tied back during the roughly three-minute hearing. She stood beside her attorney, who told the court that the defence had subpoenaed her treatment records from the jail.
The records, attorney Andrea Lyon later said, were requested to determine whether Walsh was receiving the mental-health treatment she needs.
The defence is also seeking to have Walsh released before trial to a hospital for treatment, despite a judge rejecting an earlier request this month.
Walsh’s husband, Michael Walsh, sat in the public gallery during Thursday’s hearing alongside an elderly couple who appeared visibly emotional.
As Walsh was led from the courtroom after the hearing, she made eye contact with her husband.
Outside the courthouse, friends comforted Michael, with one supporter telling him, “She will get through this, she’s strong.”
Michael was later heard telling another supporter that he had been “packing up” the family home.
Speaking to reporters outside court, Lyon said Walsh’s family remained firmly behind her.
“Her whole family is here today — her husband, mother, mother’s best friend,” the attorney said.
“They love her and this is not — she’s never been violent… she was psychotic. They all know that and want her to get better. This is not who she is,” Lyon added.
According to court documents, Walsh’s two older children discovered Barrett with a rope around his neck and his feet off the ground in the basement of the family’s home in Frankfort, a suburb about 30 miles southwest of Chicago.
The children reportedly ran to a neighbour’s house for help.
The neighbour called 911 and attempted CPR on the toddler, but he had no pulse and was cold to the touch. Barrett was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy determined that the child, affectionately known as “Bear,” died from “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck,” according to court records.
Police later found Walsh fully clothed in a bathtub containing bloodied water. Investigators allege that she had attempted to kill herself by cutting her wrists and thighs with a dull kitchen knife.
Court documents further allege that Walsh confessed to killing her son and described him as the “anti-Christ” and “devil.”
The case has drawn particular attention because prosecutors allege Walsh had become intensely focused on the high-profile case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children.
Clancy’s defence argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was legally insane when she fatally strangled her children with exercise bands. Her trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial.
According to Walsh’s defence team, she had discussed the Clancy case with neighbourhood friends shortly before Barrett was found.
During an earlier hearing, defence attorney Robert Kerr said Walsh had sent several “confusing” and “out of character” messages about the Clancy case.
Kerr told the court that Walsh had initially expressed one view about Clancy’s case before suddenly changing her position.
A witness reportedly described Walsh as abruptly saying that Clancy was “100% not guilty”, prompting friends to question whether she was okay and whether someone should check on her.
Walsh’s lawyers have argued that she was “severely mentally ill” and experiencing a psychotic episode when Barrett died.
The defence has also rejected suggestions that Walsh deliberately copied Clancy.
“Describing Corie to have copied Lindsay is to take an easy bait,” Kerr said during a previous hearing, according to a transcript.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised concerns about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying he is not certain he will be alive when Nigerians go to the polls.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, where he discussed the political environment ahead of the election and called for a peaceful and democratic process.
The former Anambra State governor said he had been subjected to petitions and investigations in different places, adding that he remained uncertain about what could happen to him before the election.
“As I speak to you, I have also petitioned, I’ve been investigated everywhere. I still hear that I’m not even sure whether I’ll still be alive at the end of this,” Obi said.
He said he was relying on God for protection, while expressing uncertainty over the circumstances surrounding him.
“I’m praying to God for His protection because at this stage, I’m not sure what is happening,” he added.
Obi also appealed to political actors, particularly state governors, to create an environment where presidential candidates and other contestants can campaign freely ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, governors have the right to support candidates of their choice, but should not prevent candidates from opposing parties from carrying out their campaigns.
“Some of them will be campaigning for presidency tomorrow. They will be campaigning for other offices tomorrow. Let’s have peace,” he said.
The NDC candidate recalled his tenure as governor of Anambra State, saying he allowed politicians from other parties to campaign in the state, including those supporting candidates who were opposed to him.
Obi’s comments come amid increasing political activity and debate over the conduct and security of the 2027 elections. He has repeatedly called for a peaceful, credible and issue-based electoral process, while urging political actors to avoid actions that could undermine democratic participation.
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