Can UTME Candidates Combine WAEC and NECO Results? JAMB Speaks Out
- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed the issue of combining WAEC and NECO results by Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates
- JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, said the combination of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) results will no longer be accepted
- Oloyede stated this while rolling out the measures during a virtual meeting with Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Admissions on Wednesday in Abuja
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering basic and tertiary education in Nigeria and worldwide
FCT, Abuja - The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates will no longer be allowed to combine WAEC and NECO results.
JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, also ruled out the combination of results from two different exam bodies, such as mixing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) results.
Source: Twitter
Oloyede said it is one of the listed conditions for screening UTME candidates for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
As reported by Daily Trust, Professor Oloyede stated this on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, during a virtual meeting with Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Admissions on Wednesday in Abuja.
The JAMB boss added that science students must include mathematics in their top subjects, while arts students must include English.
Oloyede further stated that relevant institutions should assess all under-16 candidates through a dedicated post-UTME.
He said this is important even if the institution has suspended such a process for the general admission population.
Oloyede said that JAMB will then collate the academic records and forward only those who meet all benchmarks for further screening.
WAEC snapshot
WAEC is an examination board established by law to determine the examinations required in the public interest in the English-speaking West African countries.
The examination board is saddled with the responsibility to conduct the examinations and to award certificates comparable to those of equivalent examining authorities internationally.
NECO snapshot
The National Examinations Council (also known as NECO) is an examination body in Nigeria that conducts the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and the General Certificate in Education in June/July and November/December, respectively.
Source: Twitter
‘Why 2025 WASSCE results are poor’
Reactions continued to trail the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.
Parents, teachers, higher students’ body, and other concerned persons have explained the reason for the poor performance in the 2025 WASSCE.
Legit.ng reported that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the 2025 WASSCE results on August 4, 2025.
JAMB sets admission criteria for underage candidates
In an earlier report by Legit.ng, JAMB gave an update on the admission process of underage candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, said the examination board had set admission criteria for the 599 underage candidates. According to the institution, UTME underage candidates are students who scored 320 and above but are not up to 16 years old at the time of sitting for the examination.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
