The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning to universities and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria against issuing admission letters directly to candidates, insisting that such a practice falls outside their mandate.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, gave the warning on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when he received a delegation from Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, during a courtesy visit to his office.

JAMB's Position: Only It Can Issue Official Admission Letters

The Registrar stated that JAMB is the only body statutorily empowered to issue official admission letters to candidates seeking entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

According to him, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education do not have the statutory authority to issue official admission letters independently of the Board's admission process, warning that candidates who accept offers outside CAPS could encounter difficulties when such documents are required for official purposes.

Why This Is a Problem

Explaining the concern behind the warning, the registrar noted the danger of candidates being misled by institution-issued documents. He said it is a problem that students trust any paper with a school's name on it, calling the practice "ignoble" and telling schools to stop it.

According to Aina, admissions conducted outside the approved system are invalid, and institutions cannot substitute their own admission letters for the official documentation required after candidates accept offers through CAPS.

Institutions Urged to Desist

Aina urged institutions engaging in the practice to desist immediately and take responsibility for ensuring that prospective students obtain the appropriate admission documents from JAMB.

CAPS Remains the Only Approved Channel

The registrar also said that the Federal Ministry of Education has ordered that all admissions go through CAPS, and any admission outside the system is null and void. Under the procedure described by the registrar, candidates must accept their admission offers through CAPS before the board issues the official admission letter.

Why This Matters for NYSC Mobilisation and Beyond

Aina further stated that admission offers processed through CAPS are the ones recognised for purposes including mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

This means that candidates who rely solely on admission letters or notifications issued directly by their institutions, without a corresponding record on JAMB's CAPS platform, risk facing complications later, particularly when such documentation becomes necessary for NYSC mobilisation or other official processes after graduation.

What Candidates Should Do

In light of this clarification, prospective and newly admitted students are advised to:

  • Always confirm admission through JAMB CAPS, rather than relying solely on any letter or notification issued directly by an institution.
  • Accept admission offers on CAPS as soon as they are made available, since the official JAMB admission letter is only generated after this step.
  • Treat any institution-issued "admission letter" that has no corresponding CAPS record with caution, as such documents may not be recognised for future official purposes.
  • Reach out to the institution's admissions office or JAMB directly if there is any doubt about the validity of an admission offer.

A Word for Institutions

JAMB's warning places the responsibility squarely on tertiary institutions to ensure full compliance with the national admission framework, with the registrar making clear that the practice of independently issuing admission letters, however well-intentioned, undermines the integrity of the centralised admission process and could leave candidates vulnerable to future complications.

Candidates across all Nigerian tertiary institutions, FUTO students and aspirants inclusive, are advised to always verify their admission status directly on JAMB CAPS and obtain their official admission letter only through the board.