The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Wednesday broke down in tears during a press briefing in Abuja as the board officially admitted to errors in the conduct and scoring of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Oloyede, who was visibly emotional while addressing journalists, disclosed that no fewer than 173,387 candidates will retake the examination due to identified technical glitches and scoring discrepancies.
He said the retake would take place in 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the South-East, covering states under JAMB’s Owerri Zonal Office.
“What should have been a moment of celebration for many families has unfortunately turned into frustration due to one or two avoidable errors,” he said.
The JAMB boss took full responsibility for what he described as a “regrettable oversight,” adding that the board was already taking steps to prevent a recurrence.
This development comes amid widespread public outcry over the 2025 UTME, with many candidates and parents expressing concerns over unusually poor results, which they believe do not reflect the candidates’ efforts or academic competence.
According to official statistics released by the board, out of over 1.9 million candidates who sat for the examination, only 12,000 scored above 300 — a score typically considered excellent. Meanwhile, over 983,000 scored between 160 and 199, and nearly 500,000 candidates scored between 140 and 159. A total of 2,000 candidates reportedly scored below 100.
The mass failure has sparked nationwide criticism, with stakeholders in the education sector calling for accountability. One of such stakeholders is education advocate and tech entrepreneur, Mr. Alex Onyia, who is reportedly coordinating a class-action suit on behalf of affected candidates.
Critics have also questioned the integrity of JAMB’s technical infrastructure, calling for an overhaul of the examination body’s scoring and result processing systems.
In reaction to the backlash, the board announced that it had commenced a comprehensive post-examination audit, with a focus on reviewing its technological processes and identifying the root cause of the anomalies.
JAMB assured that affected candidates will be treated fairly and that the necessary corrective measures are already being put in place.
As it stands, the credibility of Nigeria’s most important tertiary examination process remains under scrutiny, even as the fate of thousands of prospective university students now hangs in the balance.
