The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the 2025 admission deadline for public universities across Nigeria from October 31 to November 17, 2025.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, JAMB said the decision followed “emerging circumstances” and was intended to give institutions more time to conclude their admission processes.
The Board recalled that the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held on July 18, 2025 and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, had earlier fixed October 31 as the original deadline.
According to JAMB, the extension became necessary for two key reasons — an appeal from the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) and the recent accreditation of new programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“AVCNU has specially appealed for an extension due to disruptions caused by several factors, including a court order directing that the status quo be maintained on the 2025/2026 admission list — a situation only resolved when the order was lifted on 28 October 2025,” the statement read.
JAMB added that the NUC’s recent accreditation exercise also contributed to the decision.
“In a bid to expand access in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NUC on 29 October 2025 released a list of 229 newly accredited programmes across 37 universities. Admission into those programmes is only just being scheduled,” it said.
The Board commended universities for their diligence in meeting the initial timeline, explaining that the new deadline aims to promote fairness and inclusivity across all institutions.
JAMB stressed that the November 17 deadline is final and must be strictly observed, reaffirming its commitment to a transparent and credible admission process aligned with national education goals and institutional autonomy.
