BY AFOLABI OLANREWAJU
UNIHUB CONNECT TV
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Nigeria’s official examination body for tertiary institutions, has once again made headlines following technical difficulties during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board, responsible for conducting entrance examinations into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, has now ordered a resit for hundreds of thousands of candidates affected by the glitch. This development has sparked nationwide discussions about the reliability of Nigeria's educational assessment systems.
The Technical Glitch and Its Implications
JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, publicly admitted to the errors during a press briefing, where he emotionally apologized for the shortcomings that affected a significant number of candidates. He stated that the affected candidates would be notified via text messages, emails, and phone calls to reprint their examination slips for the rescheduled exams, set to take place from Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The mass failure, with over 1.5 million candidates scoring below 200, has raised concerns about the examination's credibility and the psychological impact on students. In a tragic incident, 19-year-old Timilehin Faith Opesusi reportedly took her own life after receiving a score of 190, only to receive an admission notification 30 minutes later.
Public and Institutional Reactions
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has demanded the resignation of Prof. Oloyede, describing the errors as a "damning indictment of the institution's incompetence." Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has also called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of the JAMB Registrar, suggesting that the board be scrapped entirely.
In response to the widespread criticism, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the technical errors that affected the 2025 UTME results. The motion, moved by Hon. Adewale Adebayo, highlighted the challenges faced by candidates, including long-distance travel to examination centers and the resulting stress, which may have contributed to the mass failure.
Moving Forward
JAMB has assured that measures are being put in place to prevent future occurrences. The board is working closely with examination bodies like WAEC to ensure that the rescheduled UTME does not clash with other examinations.
As the resit commences today, affected candidates are advised to check their emails and JAMB profiles for updated examination details. The board has emphasized its commitment to transparency and fairness in rectifying the situation.
Conclusion
This latest JAMB development once again raises pressing questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s educational testing systems. The coming days will reveal how well the board can regain public trust and deliver a glitch-free resit.
What’s your take on this incident? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to share this post with friends preparing for UTME this year!
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