List of Universities that Grant Admission Through JUPEB, IJMB

• Many Nigerian students are stuck in a cycle of repeated JAMB exams, delaying university admission for years
• Meanwhile, accredited alternatives like JUPEB, IJMB, and pre-degree programs can offer direct university entry
• A ange of public and private institutions accept these programs, giving students a simpler path to higher education

For thousands of Nigerian students, the path to higher education is often obstructed by one recurring hurdle: the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam.

Known as the mandatory gateway to university admission, JAMB has left many aspirants stranded for years, cycling through repeated attempts with little to no progress to show.

While some students manage to gain admission after a single attempt, others aren’t as fortunate.

Many bright candidates with scores well above 200 still find themselves excluded—not due to failure, but because of intense competition, limited admission slots, and insufficient access to useful guidance.

This situation has led some to spend four or more years idling at home, waiting for an admission offer that may never come.

This academic stagnation has prompted increasing concern among education stakeholders and families alike. Ironically, what many don’t realise is that there are viable, accredited alternatives to JAMB - pathways that can lead to direct university admission without the frustration of sitting for the exam, as reported by The Nation.

4 alternative admission routes to Nigerian universities

Among the most effective options are recognised foundational programs designed to serve as credible bridges to university education. These programs include:

1. JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board)
2. IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board)
3. Diploma or Pre-Degree Programs
4. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

Completion of any of these programs allows students to gain admission into participating universities at the 200-level, thereby bypassing the traditional JAMB process entirely.

Universities that accept JUPEB students for admission

A growing number of Nigerian universities now accept these alternatives. For students who opt for the JUPEB program, here are some of the institutions that recognise it for direct admission:

• University of Lagos (UNILAG)
• Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
• Federal University of Technology, Owerri
• Lead University, Ibadan
• Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
• Bowen University, Iwo
• University of Uyo
• Caleb University, Imota
• University of Benin (UNIBEN)
• University of Port Harcourt
• Delta State University (DELSU).

Note: All private universities in Nigeria accept JUPEB results.

Universities that accept IJMB students for admission

For those choosing the IJMB route, the following universities offer admission without JAMB:

• University of Ilorin
• University of Abuja
• Ahmadu Bello University
• 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)
• Nasarawa State University.

JAMB 2025: Schools accepting lower UTME scores

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that as thousands of Nigerian students await clarity on their university admission prospects after the controversial 2025 UTME, attention is shifting to institutions that may accept candidates with low JAMB scores.

This year’s UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, was marred by widespread dissatisfaction over unexpectedly low results. While nearly two million candidates sat for the exam, only 12,400 had scored 300 or higher.

Source: Legit.ng