Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, has clarified that Mathematics is no longer a compulsory requirement for admission into certain university programmes in Nigeria, particularly language-related courses.
Benjamin made the clarification during an appearance on Nigerian Television Authority’s Good Morning Nigeria, where he addressed ongoing discussions surrounding the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), cut-off marks, and admission processes.
According to him, the UTME should not be seen as the primary determinant for admission into tertiary institutions.
“Don’t forget that the UTME is not a major determinant of qualification for admission,” he said.
Benjamin explained that the core requirement for university admission remains the possession of five relevant O’Level credits, including English Language and other subjects related to a candidate’s chosen course of study.
He noted that the UTME mainly serves as a screening mechanism to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity, especially for highly competitive courses with limited admission slots.
“This examination is conducted. It’s a vehicle through which we can create equity, fairness, transparency,” he stated.
The JAMB spokesperson further stressed that universities still maintain their autonomy in admission decisions, although they operate within guidelines approved by education stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Education.
On the issue of Mathematics, Benjamin said the subject has been removed as a compulsory requirement for some programmes where it is considered irrelevant.
“For instance, you want to read Hausa language in a university today, you don’t need mathematics. Before, you must have a credit in mathematics,” he explained.
“If you go to London, you want to read Hausa or Arabic, you don’t need mathematics. Mathematics has no area in those programs. That has been waived.”
He added that the policy adjustment has expanded opportunities for candidates seeking admission in the 2025 academic session by increasing the number of applicants eligible for certain courses.
