The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to change how prospective candidates prepare for the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the introduction of a new digital pre-registration platform.
Under the National Digital Pre-Registration App (NDPA), candidates will be able to complete much of the planning required for UTME registration from their homes before visiting an accredited registration centre.
JAMB disclosed the development in its weekly bulletin released on Monday in Abuja, saying the initiative was designed to make the registration process more efficient and reduce errors.
Through the app, prospective candidates will be able to examine available courses and programmes, check eligibility requirements, select appropriate UTME subjects, verify personal information and review admission requirements before commencing the formal registration process.
The Board said candidates would also be able to verify details linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), with relevant information downloaded from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
According to JAMB, the application is being developed to function across different types of mobile phones and can operate even without an active internet connection in certain stages. A scanning feature will also help detect some common errors before candidates proceed to complete their registration.
However, JAMB clarified that the new application would not replace registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Professional Registration Centres (PRCs).
Instead, the physical centres would become the final verification points after candidates have completed the preparatory stages.
The Board said the new approach would help address situations where candidates make rushed decisions about their courses, institutions or subject combinations while physically registering, which often results in requests for corrections after registration.
JAMB also said parents and guardians would have a greater opportunity to participate in helping candidates make informed choices before the official registration process.
The initiative followed deliberations at the Board’s recent Management and Information Technology Retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where preparations for the 2027 UTME were discussed.
JAMB said the NDPA would complement existing digital services, including biometric verification, online payment systems and other integrated platforms.
With the new system, candidates are expected to arrive at registration centres better prepared, potentially reducing congestion, registration time and avoidable errors during the 2027 UTME registration exercise.
