No JAMB, No Problem: Nigerian Universities Offering a Smarter Route to Admission

 

According to a report from the Nation, for many Nigerian students, gaining university admission feels like chasing shadows—year after year, test after test. The culprit? JAMB. What was meant to be a gateway has, for countless young Nigerians, become a gatekeeper. Despite scoring well, many still find themselves on the outside looking in.

It’s a painful reality: students spend four, sometimes five years after their SSCE stuck in a frustrating cycle of writing and rewriting JAMB, while their peers—who found a different path—are already halfway through their degrees.

What most students and parents don’t know is that the traditional route isn’t the only one. There are accredited and fully legal alternatives to JAMB that many universities in Nigeria accept. These alternatives can fast-track students into the university system without the heartbreak of another failed JAMB attempt.

Programs like JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board), IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board), and various Diploma and Pre-Degree programs are changing the game. Through them, students can secure direct admission into 200 level at several respected universities.

For those who choose JUPEB, here are some of the universities that accept it:

* University of Lagos (UNILAG)

* Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

* University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)

* Federal University of Technology, Owerri

* Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUTA)

* Bowen University, Iwo

* University of Uyo

* University of Benin (UNIBEN)

* University of Port Harcourt

* Caleb University, Imota

* Lead University, Ibadan

* Delta State University (DELSU)

Worth noting: All private universities in Nigeria accept JUPEB.

On the other hand, if you opt for IJMB, your options are just as strong. These universities accept IJMB for admission:

* Ahmadu Bello University

* University of Ilorin

* University of Abuja

* Delta State University

* University of Agriculture, Makurdi

* Bayero University, Kano

* Lagos State University

* Federal University of Technology, Minna

* University of Jos

* Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)

These routes not only offer hope but give students control over their future. In a system where JAMB results don’t always reflect ability or readiness, these programs serve as lifelines—clearer, faster, and often more reliable.

For many students, choosing an alternative path might just be the smartest move they make.