Nigerians living outside the country who plan to pursue higher education back home can face an unexpected challenge that has little to do with gaining admission. A student may be thousands of kilometres away, preparing for university, polytechnic or college of education admission in Nigeria, yet still need to find a practical way to complete one of the most important stages of the process.
That situation is now attracting fresh attention as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, looks beyond its established overseas examination locations and prepares for a new development that could affect Nigerians living in North America.
The development concerns Canada, where JAMB is working towards establishing a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, centre in Ottawa.
As preparations develop, the location, existing foreign centres, eligibility arrangements, fees, registration process and the purpose of the Canadian centre are becoming important points for prospective candidates and Nigerian families abroad to understand.
JAMB’s Ottawa plan takes shape
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is working towards establishing a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, with the proposed location expected to begin operations in 2027. The development followed a visit by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa, where the possibility of using the diplomatic mission to support the examination arrangement was discussed. The plan is designed to make it easier for Nigerians living abroad to participate in the Nigerian tertiary education admission process without necessarily having to travel back to Nigeria simply to sit UTME.
JAMB’s position is particularly relevant for Nigerians who continue to maintain educational links with the country after relocating abroad. Some families may have children who grew up outside Nigeria but still intend to attend Nigerian universities or other tertiary institutions. Others may involve Nigerian students who travelled abroad temporarily, children of Nigerian public servants posted overseas or Nigerians who relocated permanently but still want to pursue higher education within the Nigerian system. The proposed Ottawa centre is intended to serve this wider group of eligible candidates.
The announcement therefore needs to be understood in its proper context. JAMB is not establishing a Canadian university entrance examination, and the Ottawa centre is not designed to help students gain admission into Canadian universities through UTME. Its purpose remains firmly connected to Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Candidates who sit the examination through the proposed Canadian arrangement would be doing so as part of the Nigerian admission process, subject to the rules JAMB eventually announces for the 2027 exercise.
The 2027 date matters
The most important date attached to the announcement is 2027. JAMB has not announced that the Ottawa centre will be available for the 2026 UTME, meaning candidates should not treat the Canadian location as an option for the current examination cycle. The proposed centre is being prepared for the 2027 examination, so the relevant registration details, centre selection arrangements and examination instructions will have to be followed when JAMB begins its 2027 application process.
This distinction is important because the phrase “JAMB Canada centre” can easily create the impression that registration is already available. At this stage, that would go beyond the information announced by the board. The Ottawa plan is an upcoming development, not an indication that a fully operational Canadian registration centre is already accepting candidates. Nigerians in Canada who are interested should therefore watch for JAMB’s official 2027 instructions rather than rely on unofficial claims about registration dates, fees or examination venues.
The same point applies to the examination fee. JAMB’s 2026 arrangements for foreign candidates provided for a foreign registration fee, with the 2026 training manual putting the amount at US$30 or its local equivalent for candidates in the designated foreign countries. That figure should not automatically be applied to Canada in 2027 because JAMB has not yet announced the fee for the proposed Ottawa arrangement. The eventual Canadian fee will need to come from the board’s 2027 registration information.
Who the Ottawa centre is meant to serve
The proposed centre is primarily aimed at eligible Nigerians living in Canada and other parts of North America who need to sit UTME as part of the process of seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. This means the centre is connected to Nigerian education rather than Canada’s own university admission system. A candidate living in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal or another Canadian location could potentially use the Ottawa centre if the candidate meets the eligibility requirements and follows the centre arrangements JAMB eventually publishes.
JAMB Registrar Prof. Segun Aina also highlighted Nigerians who relocate abroad as part of the group that could benefit from overseas examination arrangements. Children of Nigerian public servants serving outside the country were also identified as potential beneficiaries. Such candidates may remain interested in Nigerian higher education even though their families are temporarily or permanently based outside Nigeria, making access to UTME an important part of their education plans.
For a family living in Canada, the practical benefit could be significant. Travelling to Nigeria solely for an entrance examination can involve international airfare, accommodation, local transportation, feeding and time away from work or school. A designated examination location in Ottawa could reduce the need for such a trip, particularly for families who are already settled in Canada but want to keep a Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education among their educational options.
What the Ottawa centre is not
The Canadian plan does not mean JAMB is opening a route for admission into Canadian universities. UTME remains a Nigerian examination used within the Nigerian tertiary education admission system, so the proposed Ottawa location should not be confused with Canada’s own university admission procedures. A student who wants to study at a Canadian university would still need to follow the admission requirements of the relevant Canadian institution rather than assuming that sitting UTME creates a Canadian university admission pathway.
The proposed centre also does not currently represent a network of JAMB locations across Canada. JAMB has specifically identified Ottawa as the planned North American location. There has been no corresponding announcement establishing separate JAMB centres in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal. That means candidates should avoid treating every major Canadian city as an expected UTME venue until the board provides further information.
Another important detail is the nature of the proposed facility. The plan is not centred on constructing a large permanent JAMB campus in Canada. JAMB has indicated that it can work with the Nigerian diplomatic mission and make use of available space and personnel. The Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa could therefore play an important role in the operation of the examination arrangement, rather than the board spending heavily on a standalone permanent CBT facility.
Why Ottawa was selected
Access is at the heart of the decision to take UTME to Canada. JAMB has explained that its overseas examinations are intended to provide access to Nigerians who remain connected to the Nigerian education system while living abroad. The board has also pointed to its existing foreign examination arrangements, which already allow eligible candidates in several countries to sit UTME outside Nigeria.
The Registrar has also made it clear that the number of candidates is not the only consideration when JAMB establishes an overseas examination location. The argument is that the service is intended to support access to Nigerian education rather than operate simply as a commercial exercise. This explains why the board can consider an overseas location even when the number of candidates is much smaller than the number sitting UTME inside Nigeria.
North America is particularly relevant because JAMB previously did not have an examination location in the region. The Ottawa plan therefore represents an expansion into a part of the world that has not previously had a designated JAMB examination location. If the plan proceeds as announced, Canada will become the board’s first North American examination location, adding another region to its existing overseas network.
More than 100 people have shown interest
Another detail that has attracted attention is the early level of interest from prospective candidates. JAMB spokesperson Dr Fabian Benjamin said more than 100 candidates had already indicated interest in sitting the examination in Canada. That figure gives an early indication that there are Nigerians in the country who want access to the Nigerian UTME process without travelling to Nigeria.
The figure should however be described correctly. More than 100 people indicating interest does not mean JAMB has already registered more than 100 candidates for the 2027 UTME. Registration for the 2027 examination has not yet opened through the proposed Ottawa centre, so the final number of candidates will only become clear when the official application process begins.
The early interest is still relevant because it shows why the proposed location could have practical use. Nigerians living in Canada who have educational plans connected to Nigeria now have a potential examination location closer to where they live. The actual scale of demand will become clearer when JAMB releases its 2027 registration information and candidates begin making formal examination selections.
JAMB’s foreign examination network
Canada would not be JAMB’s first overseas examination location. The board already conducts UTME outside Nigeria through designated foreign centres, allowing eligible Nigerians living in different countries to participate in the Nigerian admission process without necessarily returning home for the examination. JAMB’s 2026 documentation identified 10 foreign locations where registration and examination arrangements were available.
The listed locations for the 2026 exercise included London in the United Kingdom, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, Malabo in Equatorial Guinea and Banjul in The Gambia. The list also included Accra in Ghana, Cotonou in Benin Republic, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Buea in Cameroon and Johannesburg in South Africa. These locations demonstrate that JAMB’s overseas examination system already covers several parts of Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The 2026 exercise recorded 379 candidates across the 10 foreign centres. That number provides useful context for understanding the scale of JAMB’s existing overseas operations. The foreign centres are not intended to replicate the huge candidate numbers seen within Nigeria. Their purpose is to provide access to eligible candidates who are outside the country but still require UTME for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The foreign centres listed for 2026
London, United Kingdom, was among the designated foreign locations for the 2026 UTME. The city provides an examination point for Nigerians living in the United Kingdom who need to participate in the Nigerian admission process. Its inclusion also reflects the long standing connection between Nigerians in the United Kingdom and Nigeria’s education system, with many families maintaining educational, professional and family links across both countries.
Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso was another foreign location, while Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire also featured in the 2026 arrangements. Malabo in Equatorial Guinea and Banjul in The Gambia were included as well, giving candidates in those areas access to designated UTME arrangements outside Nigeria. The presence of these centres means eligible Nigerians living in several West and Central African countries already have overseas options.
Accra in Ghana, Cotonou in Benin Republic, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Buea in Cameroon and Johannesburg in South Africa completed the 2026 list of 10 foreign locations. Candidates using these locations were expected to follow the relevant registration instructions and work with the appropriate Nigerian missions where necessary. The planned Ottawa centre would therefore add Canada to an existing international network rather than create JAMB’s first overseas operation.
How the overseas process works
The basic purpose of an overseas UTME centre is straightforward. An eligible Nigerian candidate living outside Nigeria registers for the examination through the designated process, selects the appropriate foreign examination location and sits the CBT examination at the approved venue. The resulting UTME score can then be used as part of the candidate’s application for admission into participating Nigerian tertiary institutions, subject to the admission requirements of the institution and programme.
The exact procedure for Canada will only become clear when JAMB publishes its 2027 instructions. Candidates should therefore expect the board to provide information covering registration, examination location, payment, identity requirements, biometric procedures and other conditions before the examination takes place. Until those details are published, it would be premature to present a particular Canadian registration process as final.
JAMB’s 2026 training manual indicated that candidates at foreign locations could contact the relevant Nigerian missions for guidance. That approach could be particularly useful in Canada because the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa is already connected to the proposed arrangement. The diplomatic mission could therefore become an important point of contact once the 2027 process officially begins.
The likely sequence for candidates
The first step for a prospective candidate will be to confirm eligibility for the relevant UTME exercise when JAMB releases the 2027 registration guidelines. Candidates should then follow the official registration process and provide the required personal and educational information. At that stage, the board should make clear how candidates in Canada are expected to identify or select the Ottawa examination location.
The next stage will involve payment of the applicable registration fee and completion of any required biometric or verification procedures. Since JAMB has not yet released the 2027 Canadian fee, candidates should not assume that the US$30 foreign fee used in the 2026 arrangements will automatically remain unchanged. The 2027 instructions will determine the amount and the acceptable payment arrangements.
After registration, candidates who select Ottawa would then prepare for the examination according to the date and instructions JAMB announces. The candidate would sit the CBT examination at the designated location and receive the result through the normal JAMB process. If the candidate meets the requirements of the intended institution and programme, the UTME result could then form part of the admission process in Nigeria.
What Nigerians in Canada should watch
The most important thing for prospective candidates is the official 2027 announcement. JAMB will need to confirm when registration opens, how candidates in Canada will select Ottawa, the final examination venue, the applicable fee and the documents candidates must provide. Those details will determine exactly how the proposed centre operates.
Candidates should also pay attention to the final list of participating foreign locations released for the 2027 exercise. Although Ottawa has been announced as the planned Canadian location, JAMB’s yearly registration documents remain the most important reference point for the actual examination arrangements. A plan announced ahead of an examination cycle still has to be translated into specific registration instructions before candidates can use it.
The examination date will also matter. The proposed 2027 commencement does not by itself provide the exact day or month for the Canadian UTME. Candidates should wait for JAMB’s official 2027 calendar before making travel, accommodation or other arrangements connected to the examination.
Why the Canadian plan matters for families
For Nigerian families based in Canada, the financial implications of travelling to Nigeria for UTME can be considerable. An international flight alone can represent a major expense, while accommodation, local transportation and feeding add further costs. Parents or guardians may also need to arrange time away from work, while students could have to interrupt school or other commitments simply to return to Nigeria for the examination.
The Ottawa arrangement could make that process more manageable. A candidate already living in Canada could potentially complete the examination process within the region rather than making a separate international trip. That convenience becomes more relevant for families with more than 1 child who may eventually need to participate in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
The plan also provides an option for Nigerians who may have moved abroad without completely abandoning their educational links to Nigeria. Relocation does not necessarily mean that a student no longer wants to study at home. Some families may prefer Nigerian universities because of family circumstances, career plans, cost considerations or existing educational connections. Access to UTME from Canada gives such candidates another practical route.
Canada’s place in JAMB’s overseas expansion
Canada’s importance goes beyond the fact that it is another country on JAMB’s foreign examination list. The proposed Ottawa centre would represent the board’s first examination location in North America if it becomes operational in 2027. That makes the announcement a notable expansion of the geographic reach of Nigeria’s tertiary admission examination.
The move also shows how JAMB’s overseas examination arrangements have developed beyond the traditional locations associated with large Nigerian communities abroad. The existing centres already cover several countries across different regions, while Canada would extend that reach into North America. The board’s explanation has remained focused on access for Nigerians abroad rather than on building a large overseas examination infrastructure.
Ottawa also offers a practical connection to Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in Canada. Since the Nigerian High Commission is located there, JAMB can potentially use existing diplomatic facilities and personnel instead of establishing an entirely separate permanent structure. That arrangement could allow the board to provide an examination service while keeping the physical infrastructure relatively limited.
The difference between interest registration
One detail that should not be overlooked is the difference between expressing interest and registering for UTME. The more than 100 people who have reportedly indicated interest in the Canadian centre represent potential demand, not confirmed examination candidates. Formal registration will only happen through the process JAMB establishes for the 2027 UTME.
That distinction becomes particularly important when discussing the size of the Ottawa centre. There is currently no basis for treating the reported interest figure as the final number of candidates who will sit the examination in Canada. The number could change when registration officially opens, depending on eligibility, fees, examination arrangements and the choices candidates make.
The same caution applies to the final capacity of the proposed venue. JAMB has not presented Ottawa as a major permanent CBT complex with a publicly announced candidate capacity. The board’s explanation instead points towards using available facilities connected to the Nigerian High Commission and working with diplomatic mission personnel.
What remains unconfirmed for 2027
Several important details are still waiting for a formal 2027 announcement. The exact registration opening date for the Ottawa centre has not been announced in the information surrounding the plan. The final examination date for Canada has also not been provided, meaning candidates should not rely on unofficial dates circulating before JAMB publishes its calendar.
The Canadian registration fee remains another outstanding detail. The US$30 figure associated with the 2026 foreign arrangements should be treated strictly as a 2026 reference point rather than a confirmed 2027 Canadian fee. JAMB will need to publish the applicable amount for candidates using the Ottawa location.
The final registration procedure also remains to be detailed. Candidates will need to know exactly how the Ottawa location will appear during registration, whether any additional verification will be required through the Nigerian High Commission and how candidates will receive instructions concerning the examination venue. Those details are expected to become clearer as the 2027 registration process approaches.
The full picture for Nigerian candidates abroad
JAMB’s overseas UTME programme already gives eligible Nigerians in several countries a way to participate in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission process while living outside the country. The 2026 foreign locations included 10 cities across the United Kingdom, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Benin Republic, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon and South Africa. A total of 379 candidates were recorded across those foreign centres during the 2026 exercise.
The proposed Ottawa centre would add a new region to that network. If the plan proceeds as announced, Nigerians in Canada and other parts of North America would have access to a designated UTME location from 2027. The arrangement would be particularly relevant to Nigerians who want to pursue admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other participating tertiary institutions without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination.
For now, the key facts are straightforward. JAMB is planning a UTME centre in Ottawa, Canada, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The centre is intended for eligible Nigerians abroad who want access to Nigeria’s tertiary education system. More than 100 people have already reportedly indicated interest, but that figure is not the same as confirmed registration. The facility is also expected to rely on the Nigerian High Commission rather than a large permanent JAMB building.
What candidates should remember
The Ottawa announcement is therefore best understood as the next stage of JAMB’s overseas examination expansion rather than an already open Canadian registration centre. The 2026 UTME cycle does not include an operational Ottawa centre based on the announced plan, while the target for the Canadian location is 2027. Anyone planning to use the centre should therefore wait for JAMB’s official 2027 registration instructions before paying money to anyone claiming to offer early registration or guaranteed access.
The purpose is equally clear. The planned centre is for Nigerians who want to sit Nigeria’s UTME while living in Canada or the wider North American region. It is not a Canadian university admission examination, and it does not replace the admission requirements of Canadian institutions. Its connection is to Nigeria’s own tertiary education system and the JAMB admission process.
Once the 2027 registration details are released, candidates will have a clearer picture of the exact fee, registration dates, examination date, venue arrangements and requirements for using Ottawa. Until then, the most reliable confirmed details remain the proposed location, the expected 2027 start, the target group of eligible Nigerians abroad, the reported early interest and JAMB’s intention to use existing diplomatic resources where possible.
The bigger development is that Nigerians living in North America may soon have a direct way to remain connected to Nigeria’s tertiary admission system without making an international journey solely to write UTME. Ottawa is expected to become the first North American location in JAMB’s overseas examination network, potentially giving another group of Nigerians abroad a more convenient route into the Nigerian education system from 2027.
