The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has dismissed a circulating press release claiming that the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination had been postponed, describing the information as malicious, misleading and entirely false.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the examination body warned candidates and the general public to disregard the fake notice, stressing that the purported press release did not originate from the board and should not be taken seriously.
“Our attention has been drawn to the malicious press release stating that the 2026 UTME has been postponed. The general public, particularly the candidates, are by this notice informed that the press release is fake and did not emanate from us. Kindly disregard it. All activities on the 2026 UTME continue as scheduled,” the statement read.
The board reaffirmed that preparations for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are ongoing and that there has been no change to the official timetable earlier released by the examination body. It warned candidates to rely only on official communication channels for accurate information regarding the examination.
According to the board, the main 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026, and candidates are expected to continue their preparations in line with the announced schedule. The board stressed that spreading false information about such a critical national examination could cause confusion, panic and unnecessary anxiety among candidates and their parents.
Education stakeholders say the spread of fake examination information has become a growing concern in recent years, especially on social media platforms where false announcements can circulate quickly and reach thousands of candidates within a short period. They noted that such misinformation can disrupt candidates’ preparation and create uncertainty around examination arrangements.
The board therefore advised candidates to always verify any information they receive about the UTME through the official website and verified social media handles of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board before taking any action.
Parents and school authorities were also urged to help monitor the information being circulated to students and to guide them properly so they are not misled by fake announcements. The board emphasized that any official announcement regarding postponement, change of schedule or examination guidelines would be communicated through its official channels and widely publicized in credible media outlets.
The examination body further warned individuals and groups responsible for spreading false information to desist from such acts, noting that misinformation about national examinations undermines public trust and can disrupt the education system.
As the examination date approaches, the board urged candidates to remain focused on their studies, complete their registration properly, print their examination slips when directed, and adhere strictly to all examination guidelines.
The board reassured candidates that it remains committed to conducting a smooth, credible and transparent examination process and advised all candidates to ignore rumours and rely only on verified information from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
