The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
The proposed centre will enable eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to take the entrance examination for Nigerian tertiary institutions without travelling to Nigeria solely for the test.
The initiative is part of JAMB’s efforts to expand access to Nigerian higher education for citizens living abroad and strengthen connections between the Nigerian diaspora and the country’s education system.
The board disclosed the plan after its Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, visited the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. The proposed centre is expected to make the examination more accessible to candidates who want to pursue university, polytechnic or other tertiary education in Nigeria.
Why JAMB Is Establishing a UTME Centre in Canada
For Nigerians living outside the country, sitting the UTME can involve additional travel expenses, accommodation costs and logistical challenges, particularly when an examination centre is not available in their country of residence.
By establishing a centre in Ottawa, JAMB hopes to reduce these barriers for eligible candidates in Canada and other parts of North America.
The board explained that the initiative is intended to improve access to Nigerian tertiary education rather than serve primarily as a revenue-generating project.
JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina said the board already conducts the UTME in several foreign countries as a service to candidates. He explained that examination centres abroad are designed to make participation possible for Nigerians who cannot conveniently travel to the country to sit the test.
The proposed Canadian centre would extend that arrangement to North America, where JAMB had not previously operated an examination centre.
Where Will the Canada UTME Centre Be Located?
The proposed examination centre will be in Ottawa, the capital of Canada.
Discussions about the facility followed the registrar’s visit to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. JAMB indicated that it would work with the diplomatic mission to facilitate the arrangement.
According to the registrar, the board typically collaborates with Nigerian diplomatic missions in countries where it conducts overseas examinations. These arrangements can involve using temporary spaces within high commission premises and working with mission personnel to support examination administration.
This approach is intended to keep operational costs manageable without requiring JAMB to establish a permanent computer-based testing facility in every foreign location.
However, candidates should wait for an official announcement confirming the centre’s final arrangements, registration procedures and examination-day instructions before making travel or accommodation plans.
Who Can Take the UTME in Canada?
The proposed centre is intended for eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America who wish to sit the UTME for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The initiative is particularly relevant to Nigerians who have relocated abroad for employment, education, family reasons or official assignments and whose children intend to study in Nigeria.
It could also help Nigerian families living in Canada avoid the cost and inconvenience of travelling back to Nigeria solely for the entrance examination.
However, JAMB has not yet published a complete set of Canada-specific eligibility rules for the 2027 examination. Prospective candidates should therefore confirm the final requirements when the board releases its registration guidelines.
The proposed centre does not mean that candidates will automatically qualify for admission into a Nigerian institution. Applicants will still need to satisfy the applicable UTME registration conditions, meet the admission requirements of their chosen institutions and complete the relevant admission procedures.
Will Candidates in Canada Follow the Same JAMB Registration Process?
Candidates intending to sit the UTME in Canada should monitor JAMB’s official announcements for details of the 2027 registration exercise.
The board has announced the proposed centre and its expected commencement in 2027, but the specific registration instructions for candidates using the Ottawa facility should be confirmed through official guidance.
Prospective candidates should pay attention to the following details when they become available:
- The opening and closing dates for 2027 UTME registration.
- The registration fee and any applicable international examination charges.
- The procedure for selecting Canada as the examination location.
- Approved registration and biometric verification arrangements.
- The location, reporting time and examination-day requirements for the Ottawa centre.
- The subjects and other information candidates must provide during registration.
Candidates should use JAMB’s official website, jamb.gov.ng, for verified information. They should avoid paying unofficial agents who claim to guarantee a place at the proposed centre.
Will the Canada Centre Change UTME Requirements?
The proposed centre is intended to improve access to the examination, not remove the requirements for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Candidates using the Ottawa facility should expect to follow the applicable JAMB registration and examination rules once the board publishes the final arrangements.
They will still need to select their preferred institutions and courses, meet the relevant subject-combination requirements and satisfy the O’Level and other conditions prescribed for their chosen programmes.
Sitting the UTME in Canada will not, by itself, guarantee admission. Admission decisions will continue to depend on candidates’ results, institutional requirements, available spaces and the applicable admission process.
Candidates should also distinguish between taking the UTME abroad and applying to study at a Canadian university. The proposed centre is intended for those seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, not for entry into Canadian universities.
JAMB’s Existing International Examination Network
JAMB already conducts the UTME in designated locations outside Nigeria, including countries in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
These centres serve Nigerians living abroad who want to participate in the Nigerian tertiary admission process without travelling home for the examination.
The planned Ottawa centre would extend this international network into North America. It could also provide a more convenient option for families whose circumstances make travel to Nigeria difficult.
JAMB has said that its overseas examination arrangements are designed to improve access, even where the number of candidates may be relatively small. The board has also indicated that enquiries from prospective candidates have contributed to interest in the Canadian initiative.
What the Development Means for Nigerians in Canada
The proposed centre could make it easier for Nigerian families in Canada to plan their children’s education and maintain a pathway into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Without a nearby examination location, candidates may have to budget for international travel, accommodation and other expenses in addition to the normal costs associated with UTME registration.
An examination centre in Ottawa could reduce some of these challenges and make it more practical for eligible candidates to remain in Canada while completing the entrance examination.
The initiative may also strengthen educational links between Nigerians abroad and institutions at home by making it easier for prospective students to participate in the national admission process.
Nevertheless, the actual benefits will depend on the final registration arrangements, the centre’s capacity and the examination rules announced by JAMB.
When Will JAMB Start the UTME in Canada?
JAMB expects the proposed Ottawa examination centre to commence operations in 2027. The announcement does not, on its own, establish the exact date on which candidates will sit the examination at the facility.
Prospective applicants should not assume that all registration dates, fees or examination schedules have been finalised for the Canadian centre.
Candidates should monitor official JAMB announcements as the 2027 registration period approaches and confirm the relevant details before completing their applications.
Conclusion
JAMB’s plan to introduce a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027 represents an expansion of access to Nigeria’s tertiary admission system for eligible Nigerians living abroad.
The initiative is expected to reduce the need for candidates in Canada and other parts of North America to travel to Nigeria solely to take the examination. It also reflects the board’s intention to strengthen educational connections with the Nigerian diaspora.
Although the centre’s expected launch year has been announced, prospective candidates should await official instructions on registration, eligibility, fees and examination arrangements.
For Nigerians living in Canada who intend to pursue higher education in Nigeria, the development could provide a more convenient route to sitting the UTME while remaining in their country of residence.
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