JAMB Warns Universities Against Issuing Admission Letters

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned Nigerian universities against issuing official admission letters to students, stating that only admission letters issued by JAMB after approval through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) are officially recognised.

The warning, reported on Monday, October 19, 2026, means that students who receive admission offers from their schools must also ensure their admission is approved on JAMB CAPS. Relying only on a school-issued letter could cause problems with their admission records and future National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation.

Why JAMB Issued the Warning

JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, gave the warning while receiving a delegation from Veritas University, Abuja, during a courtesy visit on October 15, 2026.

According to the Registrar, some candidates believe their admission is fully valid once they receive a letter bearing their institution’s name.

However, JAMB explained that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education cannot replace the Board’s official admission letters with documents issued by their institutions.

The Registrar also reminded institutions that the Federal Ministry of Education requires admissions to be processed through JAMB CAPS.

Any admission conducted outside the approved CAPS process is considered invalid by JAMB.

Does This Mean University Admission Letters Are No Longer Useful?

No. Students should understand the difference between a school’s admission notification and the official JAMB admission letter.

Universities may notify successful applicants through their admission portals or provide documents for internal registration.

However, such documents cannot replace the official JAMB admission letter.

For example, if your university has offered you admission through its website but your JAMB CAPS status still shows “Not Admitted,” you should not assume that the admission has received JAMB’s final approval.

You need to confirm that your admission has been properly processed.

What Students Should Do to Avoid Admission Problems

If you have received admission for the 2026/2027 academic session, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official JAMB e-Facility portal.
2. Log in using your registered email address and password.
3. Select the option to check your admission status and access JAMB CAPS.
4. Open your admission status to see whether JAMB has approved your admission.
5. If you have been offered admission, accept it on CAPS if you intend to attend the institution.
6. Once your admission is approved and accepted, use the official JAMB admission-letter printing service to obtain your letter.

Make sure the institution and course shown in your admission records are correct.

Important: JAMB has not announced a new deadline requiring every student to print an admission letter because of this warning.

What If Your School Has Admitted You but JAMB CAPS Has Not?

If your institution has offered you admission but it is not yet reflected on CAPS, do not immediately conclude that your admission has been cancelled.

JAMB advises candidates in this situation to:

• Confirm that their O’Level results have been uploaded and verified.
• Check whether their institution has submitted their admission for JAMB approval.
• Check for any pending course-transfer approval on CAPS.

You can contact your school’s admission office to confirm whether your admission has been forwarded to JAMB.

If the problem remains unresolved, seek assistance through the official JAMB support system.

Can an Invalid Admission Affect NYSC Mobilisation?

Yes. JAMB has warned that admission offers outside CAPS will not be recognised for official purposes, including NYSC mobilisation.

This means students could encounter difficulties after graduation if their admission records were never properly approved.

The warning is particularly important for students who are already attending school but have never confirmed that their admission is recognised by JAMB.

If you are in this situation, check your admission records and contact your institution’s admission office where necessary.

What This Means for 2026/2027 Admission Candidates

The latest warning does not mean that universities have stopped admitting students or that admission offers already approved on CAPS have been cancelled.

Rather, JAMB is reminding institutions and candidates that the official admission process must pass through CAPS.

For students, the safest approach is simple: check your admission on JAMB CAPS, accept your offer if admitted, and obtain your official admission letter from JAMB.

A university admission notification alone is not a substitute for JAMB’s official admission record.