By Opeyemi Quadri 
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for the conclusion of admissions into Nigeria’s public universities from October 31 to November 17, 2025.
The Public Communication Advisor of the examination body Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement that the the extension follows what the Board described as “emergent and compelling circumstances” affecting several universities’ ability to meet the earlier deadline set during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in July.
According to JAMB, the decision was taken after the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) appealed for an extension. The group cited disruptions from a recent court order that temporarily halted parts of the 2025/26 admission process until late October.
JAMB also pointed out that universities that more time is needed for the newly released approval of 229 new academic programmes across 37 universities across the country to begin to offer students admission into the new programmes, stating that the short extension would ensure fairness and completeness of the 2025 admissions exercise.
Private universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions are expected to continue their admissions ahead of the general closing date of December 31, 2025. So, what does the extension mean for students who are yet to secure an admission due to some circumstances beyond their control?
What does the extension mean for admission seekers?
Here is what JAMB’s extension of the 2025 admission means for parents and students who haven’t gotten admission and can take advantage of this extension:
More time for admission offers
If you haven’t received an admission offer or the institution you initially chose didn’t give you admission, you now have additional time – until November 17, 2025 – to try other newly established federal universities across Nigeria. These new universities, such as Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji , Osun State, and Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, need new students.
This means universities can still process and upload newly admitted students on the JAMB portal. If you applied, it means your chances are high that you will be given admission, provided you meet all the admission requirement boxes.
Hope for those affected by delays
Recall that some students were affected by court-related cases and programme approvals. This extension will fill that gap, allowing such issues to be resolved and ensuring that no qualified candidate misses out due to administrative delays.
New programmes mean new opportunities
As earlier pointed out, there are 229 new programmes recently accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) across 37 universities. This means more admission slots are now available. You can explore these new opportunities.
More time to monitor admission updates
Parents, guardians, and students now have more time to monitor admission updates on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and respond to offers appropriately instead of making hasty decisions.
However, the new deadline applies only to public universities. Students applying to private universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education will continue under their earlier schedules.
Above all, this extension is a relief for many candidates still awaiting admission and an opportunity to explore newly created universities if their initial institution of choice has been oversubscribed.
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Anita John