The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for the completion of 2025 admissions into public universities to November 17, 2025, citing emergent and compelling circumstances affecting several institutions.
In a statement signed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, the decision was made to ensure fairness and inclusiveness across all universities, especially those facing unforeseen delays in their admission processes.
“JAMB has decided to extend the admission deadline for public universities to November 17, 2025, to ensure fairness and inclusiveness across institutions,” the statement read.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, had earlier set October 31, 2025, as the deadline for public universities to conclude their admission exercises. This was intended to allow other tertiary institutions including private universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions — to complete their admissions before the overall national closing date of December 31, 2025.
JAMB explained that the adjustment was necessary to stabilize the academic calendar and ensure equitable access to admission slots across the nation’s higher institutions. The board also directed universities still conducting post-UTME examinations to hasten the process and meet the new deadlines.
JAMB highlighted two major reasons for the extension. The first was an appeal from the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), following disruptions caused by court orders that temporarily halted the 2025/26 admission list. The court order, which restrained universities from finalizing admissions, was only lifted on October 28, 2025.
The second reason, JAMB said, is tied to newly approved academic programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NUC released a list of 229 new programmes accredited for 37 universities on October 29, 2025. Admissions into those programmes are just being scheduled,” the statement added.
JAMB expressed appreciation to universities for their cooperation in meeting earlier deadlines but stressed that the new date of November 17, 2025, is final and must be strictly adhered to.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to a credible, transparent, and fair admission process that supports Nigeria’s education development goals while respecting institutional autonomy.
