Jane Salihu
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned universities against issuing admission letters that could mislead candidates into believing they have secured valid admission outside the approved admission process.
The Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, gave the warning when he received a delegation from Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, on a courtesy visit to his office on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Aina stressed that JAMB remains the only body legally empowered to issue official admission letters to candidates seeking entry into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
He expressed concern that candidates often regard admission documents bearing the names of institutions as genuine, even when such documents do not meet the requirements of the approved admission process.
The registrar urged institutions involved in the practice to desist, stressing that universities also have a responsibility to guide candidates towards obtaining the appropriate admission documents from the Board.
He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Education had directed all tertiary institutions to process admissions through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), warning that any admission arrangement outside the approved platform is illegal and invalid.
According to him, institutions cannot substitute their own admission letters for the official JAMB document issued after candidates have accepted their admission offers on CAPS.
Aina further explained that only admissions processed and recognised through CAPS would be accepted for purposes such as mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The warning highlights the need for prospective students to verify their admission status through the approved system rather than relying solely on letters or other documents issued directly by their preferred institutions.
It also places responsibility on tertiary institutions to ensure that their admission procedures comply with national regulations and that candidates are not exposed to complications that could affect their academic progression or eligibility for the NYSC scheme.
