The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will convene its 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions on Monday, May 11, where critical decisions, including the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 academic session, are expected to be determined.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.

According to Benjamin, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Plot 688, Institute and Research District, FCC Phase III, Jabi, Abuja.

It will bring together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

He noted that major policy directions would be unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

The statement read, “The board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions.

“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to, in particular, formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines.

“Attendees at the 2026 meeting would include critical stakeholders such as vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars and their admission officers.

“Others are regulatory bodies ranging from the National Universities Commission, National Commission for Colleges of Education, to the National Board for Technical Education, among others.”

The board added that goodwill messages are expected from agencies, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the National Youth Service Corps, and other stakeholders.

Benjamin further disclosed that the event will feature the 6th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards, aimed at promoting compliance with admission guidelines and improving standards in tertiary education across the country.

Governor Bassey Otu has expressed grief over the death of students and a staff member of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) who died in a road accident along the Calabar–Itu Highway.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, the governor described the incident as devastating, noting that it had plunged the state into mourning.

“I received with a deeply broken heart the devastating news of the tragic road accident involving students and a staff member of the University of Cross River State. This painful incident has cast a heavy shadow over our dear state and brought immense sorrow to us all,” he said.

He lamented the loss of young lives, describing the victims as promising individuals whose futures had been cut short.

“In one heartbreaking moment, we have lost some of our brightest young minds, full of promise, hope, and potential, alongside a committed staff member whose service reflected dedication and sacrifice,” he added.

“These were not just students; they were the future of Cross River State, dreams alive with purpose and possibility, now painfully cut short,” he added.

The governor also sympathised with the families of the victims and members of the university community affected by the tragedy.

“As a father, I cannot begin to imagine the depth of pain the families are going through at this time. My heart goes out to the parents who must now bear this unimaginable loss, to friends and classmates left in grief, and to the entire UNICROSS community weighed down by this tragedy.

“Please know that you are not alone. Cross River stands with you,” he said.

He offered prayers for the deceased and wished injured victims a speedy recovery.

“I pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to the departed and comforts every grieving heart. In this moment of sorrow, I also extend my thoughts and prayers to those currently receiving treatment, trusting God for their speedy and full recovery,” he stated.

The governor added that his administration would continue to engage relevant authorities in response to the incident.

“As your Governor, I stand in solemn solidarity with all affected, and my administration will continue to engage with relevant authorities as we respond to this tragic incident,” he said.

“This is a painful time for us as a people. The pain of UNICROSS is my pain, and it is the pain of every Cross Riverian.”

PUNCH Metro had reported that at least three students and a staff member of the university died after a coaster bus conveying students collided with a container truck in Odukpani Local Government Area.

The accident occurred on Friday night as the students were returning from an official assignment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The university confirmed that 24 students, mostly members of the Students’ Union Government executive, were involved in the crash.

Among those who died were the SUG Director of Sports, Solomon Uya; Lucky Erim, a Chemistry student and faculty president; Favour Darlington of the Department of Educational Management; and Mr. Anthony Arikpo, a staff member who drove the vehicle.

Survivors are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, while the police said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash and locate the truck driver who fled the scene.

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Twelve years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram militants, 12 of the survivors are set to graduate from the American University of Nigeria, Yola.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday on the university campus, the President of AUN, Prof Dewayne Frazier, described the graduation of the Chibok survivors as a global success story.

“The graduation of several students who were formerly held captive in the Sambisa Forest symbolises more than academic achievement; it is a global testament to resilience, hope, and the indomitable human spirit.

“Their journey from captivity to a university degree has captured worldwide attention as a victory over adversity,” he said.

Frazier said the milestone validated AUN’s mission as a development-focused institution and demonstrated that it is possible to bridge the gap between trauma and higher education success.

“These graduates now stand as beacons of light for the North-East and the world. Their success sends a powerful message: education is the most proven tool for healing and transformation, capable of reclaiming lives and building a brighter, more secure future for Nigeria,” he added.

He also commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for sponsoring the girls’ education at the university.

A total of 276 girls were abducted on April 14, 2014.

While 57 escaped on the night of the attack, and many others have been released or escaped over the years, more than 80 remain unaccounted for as of recent reports.

The incident also triggered the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

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