The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027.
The proposed centre will enable eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria specifically for the examination.
JAMB disclosed the plan on Monday following a visit by its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
According to the board, the initiative is aimed at making the UTME more accessible to Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
JAMB said the proposed centre would reduce the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad who have to travel to Nigeria to take the examination.
“The proposed centre will make it easier for Nigerians in the diaspora to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination,” the board said.
The board said the initiative was part of its efforts to expand access to Nigerian tertiary education and strengthen the connection between Nigerians living abroad and the country’s education system.
It added that the Ottawa centre would serve eligible candidates in Canada and other parts of North America.
JAMB also said the initiative would create greater opportunities to showcase Nigerian tertiary education internationally while providing more pathways for Nigerians in the diaspora to pursue higher education in Nigeria.
The board said it was working towards establishing the Ottawa examination centre, with operations expected to commence in 2027.
