In a bid to restore public confidence following mounting concerns over the outcome of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has formally invited Mr. Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, to join a high-powered independent panel to review the examination process. The invitation, which came through an official letter dated May 13, 2025, outlines JAMB’s resolve to promote transparency and accountability.
“I received a formal invitation from JAMB for us to transparently conduct a thorough review of the 2025 JAMB exam. The review date is next tomorrow (Thursday),” Onyia confirmed in a public statement on Tuesday, May 13. The development comes after several candidates and parents voiced complaints over discrepancies and poor performance in the just-released results, which many believed did not reflect students’ efforts.
According to the letter issued to Mr. Onyia by the Board, “In furtherance of the commitment of the Board to achieve public confidence in its processes, especially against the backdrop of the recent outcry in some quarters following the release of the 2025 UTME results, the Management of the Board has approved your participation to be part of the review panel constituted to appraise the conduct of the examination.” The letter was signed by Fablan Benamín, Ph.D, Public Communication Advisor, on behalf of the Registrar.
The panel is expected to investigate every phase of the UTME—from registration, examination administration, to the marking and release of results—with a mandate to “identify challenges, if there are any, and proffer relevant recommendations to prevent a recurrence.” Mr. Onyia has pledged to approach the assignment with sincerity and the interest of Nigerian students at heart. “After our review, I will publicly share my findings,” he promised.
Addressing the emotions and disappointment expressed by thousands of candidates, Onyia added: “If you have been troubled, keep calm. I’m hopeful that something positive will come out of it. You burnt candles, had sleepless nights, had high hopes. We will not fail you!” His message has since gone viral among concerned parents and candidates hoping for justice and accountability.
The review session is scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the JAMB National Headquarters Complex, Bwari, Abuja. The invitation further clarified, “Note that your membership of the panel is at no cost to the Board,” underscoring the voluntary and impartial nature of the process. The Board also listed the panel’s composition, which includes representatives from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Vice Chancellors of Universities, Rectors, Provosts, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, and other academic and technology stakeholders.
The panel is also expected to assess the process surrounding the release of the 2025 UTME results. “The review panel is to, among others, assess the release of the 2025 UTME,” the letter stated. With members drawn from a wide spectrum of Nigeria’s education ecosystem, there is growing optimism that the review will be fair, robust, and impactful.
The move by JAMB to bring in external evaluators has been largely welcomed by the public as a step in the right direction. It marks one of the most inclusive post-exam reviews in the agency’s history. As candidates await the outcome, there is renewed hope that lessons will be learned, processes will be strengthened, and that future examinations will uphold fairness and credibility for all stakeholders.
