The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced an extension of the 2025 public university admission deadline from October 31 to November 17, 2025.
This development, described as a response to “emergent and compelling circumstances,” was revealed in a statement issued by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser.
According to the board, the decision followed multiple disruptions that affected the smooth conduct of admissions in several public universities.
“In light of these developments, and to ensure fairness and inclusiveness, the Board hereby extends the deadline for the completion of 2025 public university admissions to Monday, November 17, 2025,”
the statement read.
JAMB explained that the extension became necessary for two major reasons.
Firstly, it cited an appeal by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), following a court order that temporarily halted the 2025/2026 admission process.
The injunction, which disrupted admission activities across campuses, was lifted only on October 28, 2025.
Secondly, the National Universities Commission (NUC) recently granted accreditation to 229 new academic programmes in 37 universities on October 29, 2025, prompting the need to create additional admission slots for those courses.
“These developments,” the statement continued, “made it necessary to adjust the earlier date to enable all universities to process admissions into the newly approved programmes.”
While JAMB praised the diligence of institutions that had already met the earlier deadline, it emphasized that this new extension is final and binding.
“While expressing appreciation to all institutions for their cooperation and effort toward meeting the initial target, the Board wishes to emphasise that this new deadline must be strictly adhered to,”
Dr. Benjamin stated.
The board also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a transparent, credible, and seamless admission process that aligns with national educational goals and institutional autonomy.
The JAMB admission deadline 2025 extension affects only public universities.
Other tertiary institutions private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are still required to complete their admissions by December 31, 2025.
The extension gives affected institutions additional time to process candidates’ admissions, especially those impacted by the temporary court injunction and the introduction of new accredited programmes.
Meanwhile, education stakeholders have lauded JAMB’s decision, noting that it demonstrates flexibility and fairness in managing national tertiary admissions.
