The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centre in Ottawa, Canada. The centre is expected to commence operations in 2027. The board disclosed the plan following a visit by its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
The proposed centre will allow eligible Nigerians in Canada and other parts of North America to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination. JAMB said the initiative forms part of its efforts towards “taking Nigerian tertiary education to the world.” It also said the centre would “strengthen the connection between Nigerians abroad and the Nigerian education system.”
This mirrors the broader migration of Nigerian talent and the diaspora’s continued engagement with the country’s institutions. Thousands of Nigerians study abroad each year, but many maintain ties to Nigeria’s education system. Some seek admission into Nigerian universities. Others want their children to have the option. A UTME centre in Canada reduces the friction for those families. It also signals that JAMB is thinking beyond Nigeria’s borders.
The board described the proposed centre as “a bigger opportunity to strengthen the connection between Nigerians in the diaspora and Nigerian tertiary education.” It added that the initiative would provide “more access” and reduce barriers for Nigerians abroad seeking admission into Nigerian institutions. The initiative also creates “greater opportunities to showcase Nigerian tertiary education internationally.”
The human stakes are about access and belonging. For a Nigerian family in Toronto or Calgary, the choice between sitting the UTME and giving up on Nigerian university admission is now less stark. The exam is coming closer to home. The connection to Nigeria’s education system is being made easier to maintain. That matters for families who want their children to have options.
But the announcement raises questions. How many Nigerians in North America will use the centre? Will the cost of administering a single centre in Ottawa be justified by the number of candidates? JAMB has not disclosed projected enrolment or the fee structure for the Canada centre. The board has announced plans before. The test is implementation.
Winners: Nigerian families in Canada and North America, who gain easier access to the UTME. JAMB, which demonstrates capacity for international expansion. Nigerian universities, which may attract more diaspora students.
Losers: Nigerian test centres, which lose candidates to the Ottawa centre. JAMB’s domestic operations, which must absorb the cost of international expansion. Candidates who cannot afford to travel to Ottawa, who remain dependent on Nigerian centres.
Bottom Line: A UTME centre in Canada is a statement. It says Nigeria’s education system is not just for those who live in Nigeria. The test is whether the centre opens on schedule and whether enough candidates use it to justify the cost.