Growing outrage has engulfed Nigeria’s educational space as parents and guardians take to social media to criticize the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over what they describe as “cruel” exam scheduling and postings for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Leading the voices of concern is Moore (@Accoid), a consultant and parent, who posted a now-viral video on her official X handle decrying the hardship inflicted on young candidates.
In her video, Moore labelled the decisions by JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, as “wickedness,” urging him to reconsider assigning examination centres far from candidates’ homes and scheduling tests as early as 6:30am. “These are teenagers,” she lamented. “Some parents can’t even accompany them, leaving the children to navigate dangerous commutes alone before dawn. It’s causing accidents and unnecessary deaths,” she stressed on X.
The outcry is grounded in tragic reality. A report by Sahara Reporters confirmed that several JAMB candidates lost their lives recently in a fatal road crash along the Oyo-Ogbomoso highway while traveling for an early UTME session. “Several JAMB Candidates Killed In Oyo-Ogbomoso Road Crash While Going For UTME,” Sahara Reporters posted on April 24, sparking even deeper anger online.
Adding her voice, @MonwoluwaS, responding to Moore’s video, narrated, “My friend in Magodo, her son was posted to Ogun State for JAMB. Now, one girl is missing after trying to find her centre. Must everything be hard in this country?” Her comment, liked over 500 times within hours, encapsulates the anxiety of countless Nigerian families.
Further emphasizing the widespread frustration, another user, @IamKennyB, warned, “It’s no longer funny. JAMB’s reckless postings are endangering children. Exams can be spaced over two weeks instead of crowding them into risky schedules.” He cited a disturbing incident in Ibadan where two candidates fell victim to ‘one chance’ robbers while searching for their centres at dawn.
The logistics nightmare extends beyond safety to sheer impracticality. Commenter @kajero_ shared the plight of a boy from Ijede, Ikorodu, who was posted to Festac for his exam. “These students are teenagers unfamiliar with these distant areas. Professor Oloyede must act now,” he insisted.
Expressing similar distress, @Shadrachisa questioned JAMB’s leadership, stating, “That useless 6:30am exam schedule was never thought through. Some kids start at dawn and finish after 7pm. It’s cruelty, not logistics.” He added personal frustration over systemic failures, noting that despite several attempts, his younger brother has not gained admission even after consistently scoring over 240.
Knawtie Gbedu (@Knaw) recounted a chilling moment: “My baby sister’s JAMB slip said 6:30am. She had to leave home at 5am to beat traffic. Whoever approved that time has no human feelings.” His statement resonated with many who argued that exam start times should not be earlier than 9:00am.
Equally, Ade Yinkar (@Adeyinkar) proposed reforms: “Teenagers should be assigned centres within their Local Government Areas (LGA). Exams should start from 10am, not before.” His suggestions reflect a growing consensus that JAMB must balance operational efficiency with student welfare.
Another heart-wrenching comment came from @mansherry, who questioned, “Why are students who registered in Ibadan posted to Lagos? It’s illogical and dangerous.” This sentiment drew heavy engagement with many others sharing similar experiences of disoriented candidates in unfamiliar territories.
Network issues at centres also compound the chaos. @Ibrahi__ lamented, “After rushing there by 6am, there’s often no network to even start the exams on time. Revert to the old method: announce centres a week before, exams by 9am. Scrap CBT for now if necessary.”
Expressing anger, @wealthyinka criticized the system’s lack of creativity: “That 6:30am timing is senseless. Some candidates finish after sunset. How can you traumatize teenagers like this?” His comment attracted hundreds of sympathetic responses across X.
Parents are not the only ones aggrieved. Students themselves, according to multiple testimonies, feel betrayed by a system that seems to set them up for failure. “Why do we always create unnecessary problems for ourselves?” asked @Mackay78, who described the candidates as “still kids who deserve better treatment.”
As of now, JAMB has not officially responded to the growing backlash. However, education stakeholders and advocacy groups are calling for an urgent review of exam schedules, centre allocations, and candidate safety protocols. Whether the board will listen to the mounting cries remains to be seen.
