The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new deadline of November 17, 2025. for all Nigerian public universities to conclude the 2025 admission exercise.
The extension, which moves the initial cut-off from October 31, was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.
According to the statement, the decision followed “emergent and compelling circumstances” that disrupted the admission schedule earlier approved at JAMB’s annual policy meeting.
Reason for the Extension
Dr. Benjamin explained that the new date became necessary after several universities were unable to complete the process due to recent developments within the tertiary education sector.
He cited two major factors:
1. A court order that temporarily halted some universities from proceeding with admissions until October 28, and
2. The recent accreditation of 229 new programmes across 37 universities, which required adjustments to the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“After careful assessment of the situation, the Board resolved to grant public universities an extension to November 17, 2025, to ensure fairness and avoid the exclusion of qualified candidates,” the statement added.
Earlier Policy
At the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in July, JAMB had initially fixed October 31 as the deadline for public universities, November 30 for private universities, and December 31 for polytechnics and colleges of education.
The new adjustment affects only public universities, while other categories are to maintain their existing schedules.
Final Deadline
JAMB warned that the new date would be final, stressing that institutions must fully comply to avoid disruptions to the national academic calendar.
“The Board will not entertain further requests for extension beyond this date,” JAMB stated, urging admission officers to complete uploads and approvals on CAPS within the timeframe.
Stakeholders React
The announcement has been welcomed by many prospective students who feared being locked out of this year’s admission cycle.
Several university officials also described the move as “a realistic step” given the unforeseen administrative and legal challenges that slowed the process.
However, education analysts caution that such extensions could affect the start of the 2025/2026 academic session if not properly managed.
Background
JAMB has in recent years tightened control over admission timelines in an effort to stabilise the academic calendar and improve transparency.
The Board’s CAPS platform requires all tertiary institutions to process admissions electronically, a move that has reduced duplication and irregular offers.
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Despite these improvements, delays linked to internal university processes, court orders, and accreditation approvals continue to affect some admission cycles.
The New Deadline
With the new deadline now fixed for November 17, 2025, all public universities are expected to conclude their admission procedures within the next two weeks.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to maintaining fairness and orderliness in the admission process, while warning institutions against any form of manipulation or non-compliance.
