The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is working towards establishing a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
The proposed centre is expected to give eligible Nigerians living in Canada and elsewhere in North America the option of taking the UTME closer to where they live, potentially reducing the need to travel to Nigeria solely for the examination.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the planned Ottawa centre would widen access to Nigeria’s university admission process for members of the Nigerian diaspora who intend to pursue tertiary education in the country.
For eligible candidates currently based in Canada, the development could remove a significant logistical hurdle associated with sitting the examination in Nigeria. Instead of arranging international travel around the examination timetable, candidates would have an examination option within Canada if the planned centre becomes operational as expected.
Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/09/23/jamb-opens-one-time-sim-and-email-update-for-utme-candidates/
The initiative also has implications for Nigerians across the wider North American region, particularly those who may otherwise face considerable travel and logistical challenges when seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Beyond the practical benefit for candidates, the proposed centre could strengthen the link between Nigerians living abroad and the country’s higher education system. It provides a pathway for members of the diaspora to remain connected to Nigerian educational opportunities without having to return home solely to sit the entrance examination.
JAMB’s plan comes as part of efforts to make the UTME more accessible to eligible Nigerians outside the country. For families in Canada, the prospect of an examination centre in Ottawa could make planning for university admission in Nigeria considerably easier.
The centre is expected to commence operations in 2027, subject to the completion of the process required to establish it.
