While thousands of UTME candidates across Nigeria are still working out how to reach their examination centres before dawn on 16 April, one institution has taken a straightforward step to solve the problem for candidates assigned to its venue.

Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Nsukka, has announced that it will provide free hostel accommodation to candidates sitting the 2026 UTME at its centre, giving those with early morning sessions the option to arrive the evening before and avoid the logistical stress that early start times routinely create for students travelling from distant locations.

The offer is particularly relevant for candidates scheduled for the first session, which requires arrival at examination centres by 7:00 a.m. For many candidates, that time demands a journey that begins well before dawn, with all the safety risks, transport challenges and fatigue that come with travelling in darkness to sit a high stakes examination. Arriving the previous evening removes all of that at no cost.

Candidates with Thursday morning sessions, for instance, are encouraged to check in on Wednesday evening, settle in, and approach examination day properly rested rather than frazzled from an early morning commute.

Education stakeholders have consistently raised concerns about how early examination schedules affect candidate performance, noting that fatigue and anxiety in the hours before a UTME sitting can meaningfully affect results. Maduka University's provision addresses both factors directly.

Parents who have been anxious about arranging pre dawn transport or last minute accommodation near examination centres will find the offer equally welcome. Candidates assigned to the Maduka University centre should make contact with the institution immediately to confirm availability and plan their arrival accordingly.