The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has released the list of successful and reserve candidates for admission into the 78 Regular Combatant Course (78RC) for the 2026/2027 academic session. The announcement was published on the official NDA 78 Regular Course admissions portal on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, after the Armed Forces Selection Board (AFSB) exercise held from 4 July to 19 August 2026.
If you applied for the 78RC and attended the AFSB, you should check the official list immediately. Candidates marked SELECTED have been offered admission and are expected to report to the NDA Ribadu Campus (Old Site), Kaduna, on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The Academy says any selected candidate who fails to report by Monday, 14 September 2026, will forfeit the place.
How to check the NDA 78RC admission list
The names are contained in the official PDF titled List of Successful and Reserve Candidates for Admission into 78 Regular Combatant Course. The document is linked from the NDA 78 Regular Course admissions portal.
- Open the official NDA 78RC admissions portal.
- Select the link for the selected and reserve candidates list, or open the official PDF directly.
- Use the PDF search function to look for your state, chest number or name.
- Check the Remarks column carefully. It identifies each candidate as SELECTED or RESERVE.
- Download and keep a copy of the PDF and your relevant application records.
Do not treat a social-media screenshot, forwarded list or message from an agent as confirmation. The official PDF is the reference document, and candidates should be suspicious of anyone requesting money to “upgrade” a reserve result or secure a place.
NDA 78RC reporting date and venue
| Item | Official instruction |
|---|---|
| Course | 78 Regular Combatant Course |
| Academic session | 2026/2027 |
| First reporting date | Saturday, 12 September 2026 |
| Final reporting deadline | Monday, 14 September 2026 |
| Reporting venue | Drill Shed, NDA Old Site, Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna |
| Who should report | Only candidates marked SELECTED |
The Academy specifically says only selected candidates should report. Candidates listed as RESERVE should not travel to the Academy unless they receive a later official communication. The official notice says reserve candidates may be contacted through the email addresses and phone numbers used during registration if vacancies arise.
Documents selected candidates must bring
The NDA has instructed selected candidates to come with the original copies of the required credentials. Photocopies alone will not be accepted for the parent or guardian consent form, and the Academy warns that a candidate who cannot present the required originals may not be accepted.
- First School Leaving Certificate.
- Primary School Testimonial.
- School Certificate results, such as WAEC or NECO.
- Senior Secondary School Testimonial.
- Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age.
- Letter of State of Origin.
- Original, duly endorsed Parent/Guardian Consent Form.
Prepare the documents in a clearly labelled folder and check every name, date of birth and state detail before travelling. If a document has an error, contact the Academy through its official channel immediately; do not rely on an unofficial correction service.
JAMB CAPS steps candidates must complete
Admission into the NDA also requires candidates to complete the relevant JAMB actions. The official 78RC list gives three important instructions:
- Upload your O’Level result on the JAMB portal before reporting to the Academy.
- If you were not offered your preferred academic department, log in to the JAMB portal and make the necessary change where the option is available.
- Accept the admission through JAMB CAPS before reporting.
Use the official JAMB e-Facility/CAPS route and confirm that the admission shown belongs to you. Keep evidence of completed actions, including a downloaded or printed admission letter where available. If your CAPS status does not match the NDA list, raise the issue through JAMB’s support channels and contact the Academy using its official details instead of paying an intermediary.
What reserve candidates should do
A RESERVE entry is not the same as a confirmed admission. Reserve candidates should save their result, keep their registration phone number and email active, and monitor official NDA communication. The Academy says reserve candidates may be called if vacancies become available. They should not report unless the Academy instructs them to do so.
Reserve candidates should also avoid sharing sensitive documents or paying people who promise to change the list. The official notice does not announce a payment that can convert a reserve position into a selected position.
Last-minute preparation checklist for selected candidates
- Confirm that your name and status appear in the official 78RC PDF.
- Accept the admission on JAMB CAPS.
- Upload your O’Level result to the JAMB portal.
- Complete any approved department-change instruction that applies to you.
- Gather the original credentials and the endorsed consent form.
- Plan travel to Kaduna early enough to arrive on 12 September.
- Follow only the Academy’s official list and reporting instructions.
- Do not wait beyond 14 September, because the Academy says the place will be forfeited.
The list also contains a packing instruction for successful candidates. Read the first page of the official PDF carefully and prepare the listed clothing, footwear and personal items. Female candidates have additional items stated in the notice. The Academy further explains that admitted cadets are full-time students in training, not employees of the Federal Government.
Is this the final admission confirmation?
The 78RC list is the Academy’s official selection and reporting notice for candidates whose names are marked SELECTED. Candidates must still comply with the document, JAMB and reporting requirements. Admission can be lost if a selected candidate fails to report by the stated deadline or cannot present the required original credentials.
For accuracy, compare the list with the official NDA portal and JAMB CAPS. The reporting instruction is separate from the earlier NDA application and AFSB stages, so candidates should not use old application dates as a substitute for the new September reporting deadline.
Official sources and verification
Exams Scholars checked the announcement on the official NDA 78 Regular Course admissions portal and the Academy’s linked 78RC selected and reserve candidates PDF. The release was also reported by Punch and The Guardian Nigeria, which independently reported the 12 September reporting date and 14 September forfeiture deadline.
Image note: The featured image is an original illustrative scene created for Exams Scholars. It is not an official Nigerian Defence Academy photograph and contains no candidate information.
Frequently asked questions
When was the NDA 78RC admission list released?
The official NDA admissions portal posted the selected and reserve candidates announcement on 2 September 2026.
When must successful NDA 78RC candidates report?
Selected candidates are expected to report to the NDA Ribadu Campus in Kaduna on 12 September 2026. The final deadline stated by the Academy is 14 September 2026.
Can reserve candidates report with the selected candidates?
No. The official notice says only selected candidates should report. Reserve candidates should wait for a direct official call or message if a vacancy becomes available.
Must NDA candidates accept admission on JAMB CAPS?
Yes. The official 78RC list instructs selected candidates to accept their admission through JAMB CAPS and upload their O’Level result before reporting.
What happens if a selected candidate reports late?
The Academy states that any selected candidate who fails to report by 14 September 2026 will forfeit the admission place.
