Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027, in a move aimed at expanding access to Nigeria’s university entrance examination for Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America.
The proposed centre is expected to provide a new examination location for Nigerians in the diaspora who intend to participate in the UTME and pursue admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
JAMB disclosed the plan following discussions between its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Prof. Isaac Adewale, during the Board’s engagement with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
The development was reported after JAMB’s participation in the 51st Annual Conference of the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA), held in Toronto, Canada, from September 27 to October 2, 2026.
The conference brought together more than 40 assessment agencies to discuss emerging issues in educational assessment, including artificial intelligence, academic integrity, digital assessment and the changing skills required by learners.
Ottawa centre to serve Nigerians across North America
According to information attributed to JAMB, the proposed Ottawa examination centre is intended to serve Nigerians resident in Canada as well as candidates in other parts of North America.
The initiative would expand JAMB’s existing international examination network and reduce the distance some Nigerians living outside the country may have to travel to sit for the UTME.
JAMB currently conducts the UTME in several locations outside Nigeria, including countries such as the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
The Board’s existing FAQ also confirms that UTME registration and examinations are conducted in selected foreign locations, with Nigerian diplomatic missions in those countries providing guidance to candidates. The currently listed foreign locations include Abidjan, Accra, Banjul, Beau, Cotonou, Jeddah, Johannesburg and London.
The proposed Ottawa centre would therefore represent a further expansion of JAMB’s international footprint.
Why the development matters
For Nigerians living in Canada, the proposed centre could make participation in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process more accessible.
Candidates in the diaspora who want to gain admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other institutions that require UTME results may otherwise need to travel considerable distances to an approved examination location.
By establishing a centre in Ottawa, JAMB would bring the examination closer to a significant Nigerian population in Canada and create a more direct pathway for diaspora candidates seeking to remain connected to Nigeria’s higher education system.
Ottawa is also home to Nigeria’s High Commission in Canada, which could provide an important institutional link for the implementation and coordination of the examination arrangement.
The Nigerian High Commission is located in Ottawa and provides consular and other services to Nigerian citizens in Canada.
JAMB plans wider reforms from 2027
The Ottawa examination centre is part of a broader set of reforms being pursued by JAMB under its current administration.
The Board has also announced plans to introduce critical-thinking and life-skills components into the UTME from 2027.
The proposed changes reflect an effort to broaden assessment beyond traditional subject knowledge and place greater emphasis on competencies that students may require to function effectively in a changing educational and employment environment.
JAMB said its discussions at the IAEA conference also focused on the impact of artificial intelligence, academic integrity and digital assessment.
The Board’s participation in the international conference provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with assessment agencies from different countries and examine how examination systems are responding to technological change.
Digital assessment and candidate support
JAMB is also working on reforms intended to improve its interaction with candidates.
According to the Board, its administration has identified Integrity, Service, Governance, Technology and Partnership as five key pillars.
It is also developing J-Care, a customer-service and support platform designed to handle candidates’ complaints, enquiries and record-recovery issues.
The Board said its SERVICOM officers are expected to provide faster responses to complaints, with cases to be resolved within periods ranging from minutes and hours to a maximum of three days, depending on the nature of the issue.
The planned improvements come as examination bodies worldwide increasingly face the challenge of maintaining the integrity of computer-based assessments while adopting new technologies.
For JAMB, the expansion of international centres is therefore occurring alongside efforts to modernise candidate services and strengthen the wider examination system.
Existing international UTME arrangements
JAMB has operated international UTME centres for candidates outside Nigeria for years.
Its official guidance states that foreign candidates can obtain application documents and complete the registration process through designated centres in countries where the Board conducts the examination. The Board currently lists an international registration fee of US$50, or its equivalent in local currency, for candidates from the specified foreign countries.
The addition of Ottawa would extend this network to Canada and potentially make the UTME more accessible to Nigerian families living across the country.
The precise examination venue, registration procedures, fees, accreditation arrangements and other operational details for the proposed Ottawa centre have not yet been publicly detailed in the information currently available.
Candidates should therefore rely on official JAMB announcements before making travel, registration or payment arrangements connected to the proposed centre.
Implications for Nigerian students in Canada
The planned Ottawa centre could have implications beyond convenience.
Nigerians living abroad remain connected to Nigeria’s education system through family, citizenship and future educational or professional plans. Some young Nigerians who complete part of their education outside the country may still wish to attend Nigerian universities or other tertiary institutions.
A local UTME centre could provide those candidates with a more straightforward route into the Nigerian admission system.
It could also strengthen the connection between Nigeria’s tertiary education sector and its diaspora population.
For Nigerian institutions, greater access to UTME examinations abroad could potentially widen the pool of candidates considering Nigerian higher education, although the eventual impact will depend on the number of candidates using the centre and the institutions they choose.
The move also demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and diplomatic engagement in supporting Nigerians abroad.
What happens next
JAMB is expected to provide further details as preparations for the 2027 UTME progress.
These details are likely to include the accreditation of the Ottawa examination centre, registration procedures, examination dates, candidate eligibility requirements, fees and other operational arrangements.
Until those details are formally released, prospective candidates should avoid relying on unofficial registration links, payment requests or claims about the exact location of the examination centre.
JAMB’s official platforms remain the appropriate channels for confirmation of registration and examination information.
The proposed Ottawa centre marks another step in JAMB’s effort to expand the international reach of the UTME while simultaneously reforming the content, technology and candidate-support systems surrounding Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
For Nigerians in Canada and elsewhere in North America, the initiative could make participation in Nigeria’s university admission system significantly more accessible when the centre becomes operational in 2027.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) — official FAQ and international UTME guidance.
- Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) — official website and current institutional information.
- TVC News — report on JAMB’s 2027 reforms and proposed Ottawa UTME centre.
- Nigeria High Commission in Ottawa — official contact and institutional information.
