By HENRY OLADELE

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has registered over 700,000 candidates ahead of its upcoming examinations.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed this on Friday while speaking with journalists after inspecting some registered Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos.

Oloyede stated that over 700,000 candidates had been registered, including more than 11,000 underage applicants.

“As of today, we have registered 779,714 candidates. This is the second week and the tenth day of registration,” he said.

He added, “At this moment, the figure stands at 780,202, with 11,512 underage applicants. Today alone, 443 underage candidates were registered.”

According to him, JAMB introduced a policy this year to accommodate exceptionally gifted underage candidates.

“The policy maintains the minimum age of 16, as in 2024, but allows exceptions for highly gifted underage candidates.

“Underage candidates are those below 16 but exceptionally brilliant, typically aged 13 to 14,” he added.

He noted that Nigeria has misused this concept, but truly exceptional candidates should not be excluded.

“We identify a few such individuals, perhaps 30 to 50 across the country,” he said.

He encouraged exceptionally gifted underage candidates to register.

“If you believe you have something exceptional, you should register,” he stated.

JAMB also created an avenue for those who are underage or overage but want to experience the CBT format.

He clarified that underage candidates taking the CBT were not yet considered full candidates.

“Those under 16 are applicants, not candidates. Only those 16 and above are regarded as candidates,” he said.

Applicants must prove they meet the criteria, or penalties may apply.

“It would be better for them to wait, as they risk wasting their money,” he warned.

He also confirmed that some candidates were registered for free under the trial testing category.

“Trial testing candidates do not pay JAMB any fees,” he explained.

“They pay N1,000 for a book, N700 to the CBT centre, N1,500 for the exam venue, and N300 to banks as a commission.

“This totals N3,500, with JAMB taking nothing from them,” he clarified.

So far, 523 candidates nationwide have registered for the trial testing programme.

“These are realists who acknowledge they are underage, which is why we made it free for them,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the registrar also visited several CBT centres on the Lagos Mainland. (NAN)