JUPEB UNIZIK Records Over 1,000 Applicants as Director Commends VC’s Support

The Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) programme at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), recorded an unprecedented number of applicants during the 2025/2026 academic session, with more than 1,000 students applying and 968 students sitting for the examinations.

The Director of JUPEB, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Chidi Akunne, disclosed this during a recent examination monitoring exercise by the office of the Vice-Chancellor. He also commended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, for his immense support for the programme, which he said had made a significant impact.

Prof. Akunne noted that since the commencement of the JUPEB programme at UNIZIK in 2016, the programme had continued to grow, with the number of subscribers and applicants increasing every admission year. He said the most recent set recorded more than 1,000 subscribers.

The Director also commended the Vice-Chancellor for his support, noting that the lecture halls previously available could accommodate only about 400 to 500 students. With the increasing number of applicants and students, the shortage of lecture halls became a serious challenge.

According to him, supervisors from the JUPEB headquarters in Lagos also raised concerns about the situation, prompting him to take the matter to the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Akunne said the Vice-Chancellor subsequently approved the search for alternative lecture halls, which eventually led to the selection of the Faculty of Biosciences Hall.

“We came in, cleared all the debris, and prepared about seven halls to accommodate the students. Before now, the students were scattered across different halls; among them, students offering arts, management courses and others stayed in different locations, thereby making coordination very difficult. The moment the halls at Biosciences Faculty were secured, JUPEB came together in the real sense of it, and all the courses are now done inside the place,” Prof. Akunne stated.

The JUPEB Director further disclosed that the Vice-Chancellor approved the production of about 300 benches, which were sufficient to accommodate the students.

He expressed optimism that the Vice-Chancellor’s approval to relocate JUPEB to Mbaukwu community, where accommodation and available spaces would not pose significant challenges, would further improve the programme.

Prof. Akunne also disclosed that JUPEB Management committed resources to lighting the facility, constructing conveniences, providing a standby generator and procuring more than 16 CCTV cameras and screens to make the examination classes suitable for students.

The Director appreciated members of his team for their contributions to the successes recorded so far, noting that the programme could not have achieved the results without their cooperation and team spirit.

“As a director, I cannot do it alone. The deputy directors, about three of them, are wonderful, and they all helped a lot. JUPEB is a national programme beyond UNIZIK. There are over 140 universities in Nigeria running JUPEB programmes, but I can say UNIZIK JUPEB is now among the best,” he said.

Prof. Akunne said student interest in the programme continued to increase and expressed optimism that the 2026/2027 session would record an even higher number of applicants.

He disclosed that applications for the programme were currently ongoing and anticipated another surge in applications following the conclusion of the regular JAMB university admission exercise.

“The programme admits students from second year if the student scales through. The markings and results are processed from the Lagos headquarters and then sent to Vice-Chancellors on release,” he added.

Also speaking during the monitoring exercise, the Team Lead from the JUPEB headquarters in Lagos, Prof. Lawrence Olusola Ige, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the programme at UNIZIK.

Prof. Ige said the students conducted themselves well and praised the hospitality and reception accorded the monitoring team, including the reception by the Vice-Chancellor.

“It has been impressive as students comported themselves well. Hospitality is top-notch, and the reception by the Vice-Chancellor was warm too. The exam process has been excellent, and there are high prospects in JUPEB UNIZIK. In fact, what we saw on the ground reflects the motto of the university—discipline, self-reliance and excellence,” Prof. Ige stated.

Applications Open for UNIZIK JUPEB Programme for 2026/2027 Session

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) Programme for the 2026/2027 academic session at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

The programme leads to the award of a JUPEB Certificate, which enables successful candidates to gain Direct Entry admission into Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and other JUPEB-affiliated universities in Nigeria and abroad.

Eligible candidates must possess a minimum of Credit Level Pass at a maximum of two (2) sittings in at least five (5) subjects, including English Language, relevant to the candidate’s desired course of study in the university.

The duration of the programme is one academic session of two semesters.

Available Subject Combinations

Arts

• Christian Religious Studies/History/Literature (CRSHL)

• Christian Religious Studies/Government/Literature (CGL)

• Christian Religious Studies/Igbo/Literature (CRSIL)

• Christian Religious Studies/Literature/Music (CRSLM)

• Economics/History/Literature (EHL)

• Government/Music/Literature (GML)

Social Sciences

• Economics/Government/Mathematics (EGM)

• Economics/Government/Literature (EGL)

• Economics/Government/Biology (EGB)

• Economics/Government/CRS (EGCRS)

Management Sciences

• Economics/Government/Mathematics (EGM)

• Business Studies/Economics/Mathematics (BEM)

• Business Studies/Economics/Government (BEG)

• Accounting/Business Studies/Economics (ABE)

• Accounting/Economics/Government (AEG)

Sciences

• Biology/Chemistry/Physics (BCP)

• Biology/Chemistry/Mathematics (BCM)

• Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics (PCM)

Candidates are to note that the above-listed subject combinations meet the requirements, as applicable, for admission into degree programmes in the Sciences, Social Sciences, Management Sciences and Arts courses in all JUPEB-affiliated universities in Nigeria, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Method of Application

I. Step 1: Visit https://apply.jupeb.unizik.edu.ng

ii. Step 2: Click on JUPEB Portal.

iii. Step 3: Click on GENERATE APPLICATION INVOICE.

iv. Step 4: Provide your Name, State of Origin, Phone number, email, and submit.

v. Step 5: Use the RRR number generated on the invoice and proceed to make payment at the bank or Pay Online.

vi. Step 6: After payment, visit https://jupeb.unzik.edu.ng again and click JUPEB Portal.

vii. Step 7: Click FILL APPLICATION FORM.

viii. Step 8: Enter your RRR number and click SUBMIT.

ix. Step 9: Proceed to fill out the application form and print.

x. Step 10: Print out your application form as an acknowledgement slip.

General Information

xi. Applicants in the 2026/2027 Preliminary Programme are advised to check the university’s website from time to time for their admission status and other relevant information.

xii. All candidates are required to register for the 2027 JAMB Direct Entry during the programme.

xiii. All candidates are required to use valid e-mail addresses and PERSONAL telephone numbers.

xiv. The forms must be filled out and submitted online either immediately or within two weeks of accessing the website. No downloaded or printed copies of forms will be accepted.

xv. Candidates are advised to follow the application instructions very carefully and ensure they select the correct SUBJECT COMBINATIONS. Failure to do so may adversely affect the candidate.

Further Enquiries

Phone: 07032231483, 0813 706 1235, 08030443843, 09033501183, 08060682395

E-mail: jupeb@unizik.ng

Closing Date

Submission of online forms closes on Friday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.