The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the introduction of a National Digital Pre-Registration App (NDPA) ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in a move aimed at making registration faster, easier and less prone to errors.
The Board disclosed this in its weekly bulletin released on Monday, September 14, 2026, following initiatives adopted at its recently concluded 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat considered modalities for the conduct of the 2027 UTME and broader reforms to improve the Board’s operations and candidate experience.
Under the new arrangement, prospective UTME candidates will be able to use their mobile phones to undertake important preparatory activities from home before proceeding to an accredited registration centre.
JAMB said candidates would be able to research, learn, discuss and plan their registration choices before visiting an accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) or Professional Registration Centre (PRC).
The Board said the objective is to transform registration centres from the first point of engagement with candidates into final verification points, thereby reducing the amount of time candidates spend completing the registration process physically.
According to JAMB, candidates will be able to use the digital platform to make several important decisions before registration. These include selecting courses and programmes, checking eligibility, confirming subject combinations, verifying personal information and reviewing admission requirements.
The Board said particular attention would be given to the verification of candidates’ personal information, including National Identification Number (NIN) details obtained from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
JAMB also said the app has been designed to work across different types of mobile phones, including situations where candidates do not have an active data connection. It is also expected to incorporate a scanning function capable of identifying and helping to prevent common errors during the preparatory process.
However, JAMB stressed that the new digital platform will not replace official UTME registration at accredited centres.
Candidates will still be required to proceed to accredited registration centres after completing the preparatory stage on the app, where they will complete the official registration process and undergo the required verification.
The Board said the new system is intended to give candidates adequate time to make informed decisions before arriving at registration centres, thereby reducing mistakes that may occur when choices are made hurriedly under pressure.
JAMB also said the initiative would provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to play a more active role in helping candidates make appropriate decisions regarding their courses, programmes and other registration choices.
The Board expressed optimism that the initiative would reduce subsequent requests for changes to courses, institutions and subject combinations, as well as other post-registration corrections.
The National Digital Pre-Registration App is part of a broader reform programme being pursued by the new JAMB administration under Registrar Prof. Segun Aina. At the Management and IT Retreat, Aina identified technology review, a unified customer service system, ISO certification, a paperless regime, the UTME pre-registration mobile app, strategic communication and staff welfare among the administration’s flagship initiatives.
The reforms are being pursued under the Board’s strategic roadmap, “JAMB 2031: Building Trust, Reducing Trauma,” which the Registrar said would guide the institution’s development agenda from 2026 to 2031.
JAMB said the pre-registration initiative would complement other digital facilities being deployed by the Board, including biometric verification, online payments and integrated services.
The development comes as JAMB begins preparations for the 2027 UTME. The Board has already listed approved registration centres for the 2027 exercise on its official platform, indicating that physical registration centres will remain an integral part of the registration process.
With the proposed system, candidates are expected to complete much of the research, planning and decision-making associated with registration before visiting an accredited centre. JAMB believes this will help reduce congestion, registration time and avoidable errors while improving the overall experience of candidates and their parents.
Further details on the rollout, access and operational procedures for the National Digital Pre-Registration App are expected from JAMB as preparations for the 2027 UTME progress.