The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The proposed centre would allow eligible Nigerians in Canada and elsewhere in North America to take the entrance examination without travelling to Nigeria solely for the test.
JAMB announced the proposal on Monday, 5 October, following discussions at the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. The board said the initiative would improve access to Nigerian tertiary education and strengthen connections with Nigerians living abroad. The announcement concerns a planned centre, rather than a facility already accepting candidates.
Explaining the proposal on Tuesday, JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina said its purpose was educational access, not revenue generation. He noted that the board already conducts examinations in about 10 foreign countries and provides examination access in correctional facilities, arguing that candidate numbers alone should not determine whether a service is offered.
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said more than 100 prospective candidates had indicated interest in taking the examination in Canada. That figure describes expressions of interest, not completed registrations or a confirmed attendance total. No verified interviews with prospective Canadian candidates were available in the material reviewed.
For a family considering university education in Nigeria, an Ottawa centre could remove the need to pay for an international flight and accommodation just to sit the examination. Parents might also avoid taking extended leave to accompany a child. These are potential benefits of the proposal; JAMB has not published a calculation of the savings applicants could make.
Access would still depend on where candidates live. Applicants outside Ottawa could face domestic travel and accommodation costs, while those elsewhere in North America would need to check the requirements for entering Canada. A single centre would shorten the journey for some families without eliminating travel barriers for everyone.
Aina said JAMB intended to work through the Nigerian High Commission, using temporary spaces within its premises and staff assistance rather than establishing a permanent computer-based testing facility. “Not a single kobo has gone into this exploration so far,” he said, explaining that he discussed the arrangement while visiting Canada for a conference.
The proposal builds on JAMB’s existing overseas examination arrangements. Its published guidance already identifies designated foreign locations, including Accra, Johannesburg, Jeddah and London. Ottawa would extend that approach into North America, which Aina said had no existing UTME centre before this initiative.
Taking the UTME in Canada would remain a route towards admission to Nigerian institutions; it would not become an entrance examination for Canadian universities. Applicants would still need to satisfy the academic requirements and admission procedures of their chosen Nigerian institutions. Sitting the test abroad would not guarantee a place.
As of the announcement reviewed on 6 October, Ottawa-specific examination fees, registration dates, capacity and detailed application instructions had not been published. The 2027 start remains an expected launch date. Families can consider the option, but firm arrangements will depend on JAMB issuing the operational details and confirming that the centre is ready.
