The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to allow candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to use their personal computers for the examination beginning from 2027.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
According to Oloyede, the initiative, tagged “Bring Your Own Device,” is part of broader reforms aimed at improving the conduct of the UTME and making the process more convenient for candidates across the country.
He explained that although candidates would be permitted to use their personal computers, JAMB would install a secured flash drive on each device during the examination to guard against malpractice and ensure the integrity of the test.
The registrar said the new arrangement would reduce operational costs and ease some of the technical challenges often experienced during the examination.
“Candidates regularly complain that systems shut down during examinations. Allowing them to use devices they are already familiar with will help address such issues,” he said.
Oloyede added that the board was already working on additional technological innovations expected to enhance the conduct of the UTME by 2027.
Speaking further, the registrar highlighted the performance statistics from the 2026 UTME, announcing that Jesudunsin Owoeye from Ekiti State emerged as the overall best candidate with a score of 372 out of 400.
He said Owoeye sat for the examination in Ogun State and selected the University of Lagos as first choice institution to study Medicine and Surgery.
The score, however, fell three points short of the highest mark recorded in 2025, when Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State scored 375 in the examination.
Oloyede also disclosed that Ikenna Enwere from Imo State came second with a score of 370.
According to him, Enwere wrote the examination in Lagos State and chose Nile University to study Computer Science.
Ayomide Bamisile from Ondo State secured the third position with a score of 369.
Bamisile selected the Federal University of Technology, Akure as first choice institution to study Software Engineering.
The JAMB boss reiterated the board’s commitment to deploying technology-driven solutions to improve examination credibility and candidate experience nationwide.
