In a major development shaking Nigeria’s education sector, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted to errors that compromised the integrity of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), affecting scores of thousands of candidates nationwide.
According to a 9am News report, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this during a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, where he emotionally acknowledged the Board’s failure and announced that 173,387 candidates would retake the examination.
“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Oloyede said, as he intermittently wiped tears during the briefing.
The UTME is a compulsory entrance exam for students seeking admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions. It assesses candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English.
Out of the 1,955,069 results processed, JAMB data shows a worrying trend:
- Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above.
- 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319.
- A total of 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 and above.
Meanwhile, over 1.5 million candidates, accounting for more than 75%, scored below 200 out of the possible 400. The breakdown is as follows:
- 334,560 (17.11%) scored between 200–249.
- 983,187 (50.29%) scored between 160–199.
- 488,197 (24.97%) scored between 140–159.
- 57,419 (2.94%) scored between 120–139.
- 3,820 (0.20%) scored between 100–119.
- 2,031 (0.10%) scored below 100.
These figures triggered public outcry, with numerous candidates alleging technical errors and calling for legal action.
Retake Announced, Registrar Accepts Responsibility
In response to mounting pressure and widespread reports of technical glitches and irregularities, JAMB has ordered a resit of the UTME for candidates in 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the Owerri Zone, which includes the five states of Nigeria’s South-East.
“We received an unusually high number of complaints regarding discrepancies in scores,” Prof. Oloyede stated, confirming that technical failures had contributed to the mass underperformance.
He also took full responsibility for the lapses and promised that the affected candidates would be given a fair opportunity to prove their capabilities.
Some aggrieved candidates and parents are reportedly considering legal action against JAMB, citing damage to their academic prospects and emotional trauma. The situation has reignited national conversations about the reliability of Nigeria’s exam systems and the need for digital reforms in test administration.
Oloyede assured that the board is reviewing its protocols and working with technical experts to prevent future occurrences.
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