For many Nigerians, the dream of going to university often stalls at one major hurdle: JAMB UTME. Each year, students miss out on admission; some don’t meet the cut-off, others never get in despite passing, and a growing number are simply tired of the uncertainty. But there’s good news. A new generation of universities licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) are offering a different route, one that skips the JAMB UTME bottleneck.

These five NUC-approved institutions are changing the game by making university education more accessible, flexible, and aligned with real-world goals.

1. Miva Open University

Miva Open University is Nigeria’s first operational private open university that offers direct admission without JAMB UTME. Applicants need only five O’Level credits, including English and Mathematics, obtained in no more than two sittings. Miva is tech-driven, and courses are delivered via pre-recorded videos and PDFs via a learning management system online.

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With a flexible, remote learning model, Miva allows students to study from anywhere and at their own pace, ideal for those juggling work, family, or other commitments. Tuition fee starts at ₦150,000 per semester with no any additional cost; the tuition is affordable, and students graduate with career-ready skills in fields like tech, business, and management.

2. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

The National Open University of Nigeria is the country’s first open and distance learning institution. While JAMB UTME isn’t required, candidates must meet standard O’Level requirements and apply through the NOUN portal.

With a self-paced system and wide national reach, NOUN is a choice for those seeking flexibility.

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3. Iconic Open University

Iconic Open University is a new entrant in Nigeria’s open education space, offering flexible learning through a technology-driven model. Admission does not require JAMB UTME, though applicants must present valid O’Level results and meet other documentation requirements.

Designed for students seeking an alternative to traditional schooling, Iconic Open University provides a more personalised approach to higher education.

4. West Midlands Open University, Ibadan

Also licensed by the NUC, West Midlands Open University operates primarily online and accepts students without requiring JAMB UTME. With a focus on quality distance education, the institution allows students to complete their degree programmes remotely and on schedule.

Applicants must still meet O’Level standards and go through the school’s internal admission process.

5. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja

Licensed in 2023, Al-Muhibbah Open University provides remote learning opportunities for a range of undergraduate courses. It offers admission without UTME, relying instead on O’Level performance and other standard entry requirements.

The university’s distance learning model offers flexibility and access, especially for students unable to attend traditional campus-based programmes.

What About JUPEB and IJMB?

Programmes like JUPEB and IJMB are well-known pathways to 200-level admission in some universities without JAMB. However, they often require 9 to 12 months of pre-university study, can be expensive, and do not guarantee automatic entry. Final admission still depends on performance and the university’s discretion.

The Road Ahead

The pressure to pass JAMB can leave many feeling stuck, but that no longer needs to be the case. These universities are offering students a chance to:

Begin their studies immediately
Learn flexibly and remotely
Graduate on time
Enter the workforce with confidence

Whether you’re trying again or just starting out, your university journey can begin without JAMB UTME. All you need is your O’Level result and the will to move forward.
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Commuters and motorists were stranded at the Jattu junction on the Benin-Auchi-Okene Highway as hundreds of youths staged a protest over the gully erosion ravaging the community and the incessant kidnapping of their people.

A significant number of heavy-duty trucks, cars, motorcycles, and commuters were seen in long queues at the junction, with the police and other security personnel on the ground to maintain peace and ensure the protest was not hijacked by hoodlums.

The youths under the umbrella of Auchi Youth Council converged at the popular Jattu Junction with their placards, calling on the government to address their demands, saying they were tired of facing unnecessary hardship in their domain.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chalaman Momoh said the protest was to draw the attention of government and relevant authorities to the gullies and incessant kidnapping in the community.

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He said, “We are here to cry out to the government on the issue of gully erosion that is ravaging our community. We have written to the government, and we have yet to get a response.

“We are also experiencing the issue of kidnapping every day. These kidnappers go into the homes of our people in the community and abduct them.

“So, we are here to show solidarity and we are calling on the government to come to Auchi and salvage the erosion menace as well as put an end to the incessant kidnapping of our people,” Momoh said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Edo Take It Back Movement, Hafiz Lawal, said no fewer than 15 persons in Auchi had been kidnapped with over N70m paid as ransom.

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Lawal, who is also the Coordinator of Coalition for Edo North Youths for Good Governance, listed the gully erosion sites as Utsokhwilli Gully, Water Tanker Road and Auchi-Igarra Road.

He added, “The demand we are placing before the government is that the erosion ravaging Auchi must be solved. The issue of insecurity with 15 persons from Auchi so far kidnapped calls for action.

“We are protesting to draw the attention of the government to the issue so that we can be rescued,” Lawal noted.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a suspected self-kidnapper and her accomplice after collecting N3m ransom in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Monday in Asaba, the state capital.

Edafe said the command had continued to record operational milestones in its relentless war against crime and criminality in the state, with the operatives successfully arresting a suspected fake kidnapper and her accomplices.

“On July 21, 2025, the Delta State Police Command received a report of a kidnapping incident involving a female victim who was abducted by unknown armed men in the Ajaji (Bonsaac) Layout of Asaba.

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“Acting promptly on the report, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the Commander, Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad, Godwin Osadolor, to ensure that the victim was rescued unhurt.

“The command led operatives and launched a coordinated intelligence-driven operation. Through diligent investigative efforts and strategic deployment, the operatives apprehended one Alfred Elisha at the Koka Roundabout, Asaba, and another suspect, Ugochukwu Adim, off DLA Road, Asaba, on July 22, 2025.

“Upon arrest of the suspects, he confessed that it was not a case of an actual kidnapping but a plot between the victim and himself. His revelation led to the arrest of the other suspect, Merit Eleh, 29 years old.

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“She confessed that the money loaned to her by her brother of about N3.6m she used it to sponsor her bridal shower and hotel expenses during her wedding, which took place in March 2025.”

According to Edafe, the suspect stated that she “faked her kidnap and received a ransom of N3m and gave her accomplices N500,000, and she took N2.5m for herself.”

He said all the suspects involved in the fake kidnapping had been arrested while an investigation was ongoing.