The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, allowing Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to take the examination closer to home from 2027.
The board disclosed the plan following a visit by its Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
According to JAMB, the proposed centre is designed to make it easier for eligible Nigerians in the diaspora to sit for the UTME, particularly those seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
No More Travel to Nigeria Solely for UTME
JAMB said the Ottawa centre would reduce the burden on Nigerians abroad who currently have to travel to Nigeria specifically to participate in the examination.
“For Nigerians in Canada, the UTME is coming closer to home,” the board said.
The examination body added that it is working towards establishing the centre, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
Connecting the Diaspora to Nigerian Education
JAMB described the initiative as part of its broader effort to expand the reach of Nigerian tertiary education internationally.
The board said the centre would help strengthen the connection between Nigerians living abroad and the Nigerian education system while creating greater opportunities to promote Nigerian tertiary institutions internationally.
The initiative is also expected to improve access for Nigerians across North America who wish to pursue higher education in Nigeria.
JAMB said the proposed Ottawa centre represents “a bigger opportunity” to deepen the relationship between the Nigerian education system and its diaspora community.
The board added that the initiative would provide greater access and help remove some of the barriers faced by Nigerians abroad seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
If implemented as planned, the Ottawa centre will give eligible candidates in Canada and the wider North American region the opportunity to take the UTME without having to travel to Nigeria solely for the examination.
