The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) plans to establish its first examination centre in North America, in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027. This move is part of JAMB's J-CARE framework, aimed at improving access for Nigerians abroad. The centre will cater to candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Over 100 Nigerians living in Canada have already indicated interest in sitting for the UTME in Ottawa. JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this preliminary figure, demonstrating tangible demand for the examination centre. The development comes after the initial announcement drew mixed reactions online, with critics questioning the logic of diaspora students returning to Nigeria for study.
Despite the pushback, JAMB insists that the proposed centre serves a vital purpose for Nigerians in Canada and elsewhere in North America who want to gain admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions. The arrangement could particularly benefit Nigerian families who have moved to Canada but still intend to send their children to university in Nigeria.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, explained that the move is part of the board's J-CARE framework, built around the idea of "More access. More opportunities. A stronger connection to home." The Canadian expansion materialized efficiently when JAMB officials, already in the country attending the 51st International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) conference in Toronto, leveraged the trip to finalize the arrangement.
During a visit to Ottawa, Prof. Aina held direct talks with Nigeria's Ambassador to Canada, Prof. Isaac Adewale. JAMB does not plan to build a major permanent facility in Canada for the exercise; instead, the board could use space at the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
Canada would become JAMB's first examination location in North America if the plan goes ahead. The board already operates foreign UTME centres in several parts of the world, including London, Ouagadougou, Abidjan, Malabo, Banjul, Accra, Cotonou, Jeddah, Buea, and Johannesburg. In 2026, the examination was conducted at 10 international centres, with 379 candidates recorded across those foreign centres.
While the over 100 people who have expressed interest in Canada are not yet confirmed candidates for the 2027 examination, the early response gives a strong indication of potential demand for a North American location. The Ottawa plan represents more than an additional examination centre; under J-CARE, JAMB is extending an existing overseas examination system to North America while maintaining a link between Nigerians abroad and the country's tertiary education system.
Key points
- JAMB plans to establish its first examination centre in North America in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027.
- Over 100 Nigerians in Canada have expressed interest in sitting for the UTME in Ottawa.
- The proposed centre is part of JAMB's J-CARE framework, aimed at improving access for Nigerians abroad.
