By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA’S CHIEF examination official, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, was in tears publicly as he apologised for the massive technical failures that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
As the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) conceded grave technical failings in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), affecting nearly 380,000 candidates, Registrar Oloyede stood visibly shaken on Wednesday during a media briefing in Abuja.
He admitted the agency’s role in what has become one of the most controversial national examinations in recent years.
The board disclosed that technical glitches struck 157 out of 887 centres across Lagos and Owerri, distorting results and compromising the credibility of an examination sat by nearly two million young Nigerians.
Oloyede, who leads Nigeria’s premier tertiary matriculation agency, wiped tears from his eyes as he took full responsibility. “I hold myself personally responsible and I unreservedly apologise for the trauma it has subjected affected Nigerians to, directly and indirectly,” he said.
He announced an immediate resit for the 379,997 affected candidates, starting Friday, May 16, and assured that candidates would be contacted through SMS, email, and phone calls to reprint examination slips.
JAMB acknowledged that despite rigorous preparations, the system failed. “We burn the midnight oil, but despite everything, an error happened. It is a classical manifestation of the axiom that man proposes, but God disposes,” he said.
Pressure had intensified following the release of results on May 9, revealing that over 78 per cent of the 1.95 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400. Only 0.24 per cent reached the elite score band of 320 and above.
A deeper analysis showed more than 983,000 candidates scored between 160 and 199, with 488,197 recording scores between 140 and 159.
The lowest bracket, under 100, included just over 2,000 candidates.
Widespread outrage led to protests and accusations of systemic failure. Students, parents, and education stakeholders raised concerns over incomplete questions, low marks, and examination irregularities.
Oloyede admitted the board’s image had taken a significant hit. “This incident represents a significant setback… We remain committed to emerging stronger in our core values of transparency, fairness and equity,” he said.
The board has launched a full review of the 2025 UTME, enlisting digital forensic experts, education measurement professionals, and heads of institutions to identify and rectify faults.
A separate investigation is ongoing into 97 confirmed cases of malpractice and 2,157 suspected infractions.
Biometric challenges also prevented over 71,000 candidates from sitting the examination, though JAMB confirmed rescheduling is underway for those cleared.
Further scrutiny emerged when the board revealed that 40,247 underage candidates sat for the 2025 UTME under a special exemption for “exceptional abilities.”
However, just 1.16 per cent of them met the required performance benchmark.
JAMB also confirmed that results for visually impaired and JEOG category candidates are still being processed.
Legal action from aggrieved candidates is reportedly being considered, even as the Ministry of Education reaffirmed support for JAMB’s computer-based testing system, citing its role in drastically reducing examination malpractice.
As the fallout continues, the examination board insists that it will rebuild trust for the millions of young Nigerians affected by this year’s results.
