From MG Gazali
The Sokoto State Government has commenced the distribution and registration of 14,000 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for the 2026/2027 academic session, marking another significant step toward expanding access to tertiary education in the state.
The exercise, carried out through the Ministry of Higher Education, covers 12,000 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms and 2,000 Direct Entry (DE) forms, targeted at supporting students seeking admission into higher institutions across Nigeria.
Flagging off the exercise at the new auditorium of Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isa Muhammad Maishanu, described the initiative as a deliberate investment in human capital development.
He said the programme reflects the state government’s commitment to its nine-point innovative agenda, particularly in the area of education.
Professor Maishanu advised beneficiaries to make responsible use of the forms, noting that the gesture was designed to open more opportunities for young people and contribute to the long-term development of Sokoto State.
He commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for approving the intervention, which he said would improve access to tertiary education and increase admission chances for qualified candidates both within and outside the state.
In a welcome address, the Director of Academic Planning in the Ministry of Higher Education, Liya’u Alkali, appreciated the support of stakeholders and partners whose cooperation ensured the successful take-off of the exercise.
The Zonal Director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Sokoto State Office, Muazu Ibrahim Hassan, also addressed the gathering, where he outlined the new guidelines for the 2026/2027 UTME and Direct Entry examinations and explained recent procedural updates to prospective candidates.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Sokoto State, Hon. Abba Shehu Tambuwal, represented by the Chairman of Yabo Local Government Area, Hon. Muhammad Abubakar Bazar, praised the state government for prioritising education and youth empowerment, assuring that local governments would ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution process.
The Chairman of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Committee on Higher Education, represented by the Committee Secretary, Sambo Buhari, reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for policies and programmes aimed at widening access to higher education.
The event concluded with the distribution of the JAMB forms to the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
