The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is working towards establishing a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, from 2027, giving Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America the opportunity to sit the examination without travelling to Nigeria. JAMB announced the proposed centre following a visit by its Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa. The board said the initiative is designed to reduce barriers for Nigerians in the diaspora seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions, while strengthening their connection with Nigeria’s education system. According to JAMB, the Ottawa centre is expected to form part of its wider international examination network.
Aina has since clarified that the decision was driven primarily by access to education rather than the number of candidates or revenue potential. The Registrar said JAMB currently conducts the UTME in about 10 foreign countries and treats the overseas examinations as a service to Nigerians who need access to the Nigerian admissions system. He explained that the board would work with the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, as it does in other countries, potentially using temporary facilities within diplomatic premises and support from mission staff rather than establishing a permanent examination centre. Aina also said no money had been spent on the Canadian initiative so far, with discussions beginning during a visit to Canada for a conference. JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin added that more than 100 prospective candidates had already indicated interest in taking the examination in Canada.
The planned Ottawa UTME centre expands JAMB’s efforts to make Nigerian tertiary education accessible beyond the country’s borders while creating a new channel for engaging the Nigerian diaspora. For prospective students in Canada and North America who intend to study in Nigeria, removing the need for international travel solely to take the UTME could reduce both logistical and financial barriers. The initiative could also give Nigerian universities greater visibility among diaspora families who maintain educational links with the country. With the centre expected to commence operations during the 2027 UTME cycle, its implementation will depend on the final arrangements between JAMB and the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, but the move represents a notable expansion of Nigeria’s national university admissions system into North America.
