The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is working towards establishing a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, in a move expected to make the examination more accessible to Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America.
The proposed centre is expected to commence operations in 2027, giving eligible Nigerian candidates in the diaspora an opportunity to sit for the UTME closer to their places of residence without travelling to Nigeria solely to take the examination.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the financial and logistical challenges faced by Nigerians abroad who seek admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions and are required to participate in the UTME.
For many Nigerians living in Canada, travelling to Nigeria for the examination can involve substantial costs, including international airfare, accommodation, transportation and other expenses. Establishing an examination centre in Ottawa would therefore provide a more convenient alternative for prospective candidates.
The proposed Ottawa centre would also expand JAMB’s examination infrastructure beyond Nigeria and strengthen access to the Nigerian tertiary education system for members of the Nigerian diaspora.
Eligible Nigerians residing in Canada and potentially other parts of North America would be able to participate in the admission process without having to make a separate trip to Nigeria for the UTME.
The move is also significant against the backdrop of the growing Nigerian diaspora and the increasing interest among Nigerians abroad in maintaining educational and institutional links with the country.
By bringing the UTME closer to prospective candidates, JAMB is expected to strengthen the connection between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigerian higher education institutions.
The initiative could particularly benefit young Nigerians who were educated or raised abroad but wish to pursue university education in Nigeria. It may also make it easier for families living outside the country to consider Nigerian tertiary institutions as viable options for their children’s education.
The proposed centre in Ottawa is expected to complement JAMB’s existing efforts to expand access to the UTME while ensuring that eligible candidates can participate in the admission process under appropriate examination conditions.
However, details concerning the exact location of the centre, registration arrangements, examination dates, eligibility requirements and whether additional centres will be established in other North American cities are expected to be communicated by JAMB as preparations progress.
The planned 2027 commencement would mark an important step in extending Nigeria’s national university admission examination to a wider population of Nigerians outside the country.
For Nigerians in Canada, the development means greater access to the UTME, fewer barriers associated with international travel and a closer connection to Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The initiative underscores the importance of creating opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in national educational programmes regardless of their location.
With the proposed Ottawa centre, JAMB is taking steps to make the UTME more accessible to eligible Nigerians abroad while opening another pathway for members of the diaspora who wish to pursue higher education in Nigeria.
