The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has acknowledged responsibility for the widespread failure observed in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). At a press conference on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, visibly emotional, announced that approximately 379,997 candidates will be required to retake the examination due to technical glitches and irregularities.
The registrar revealed that 65 examination centers in Lagos and 92 centers in the Owerri zone, covering five South-East states, are affected and will conduct a resit. This decision follows numerous complaints from candidates and stakeholders about unusually low scores and system malfunctions during the exam.
Out of nearly 1.9 million candidates who sat for the UTME, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of 400, raising concerns nationwide. JAMB has initiated an expedited review of the entire examination process, involving experts from the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, tertiary institution examiners, and educational research networks to investigate the reported issues thoroughly.
Education technology expert Alex Onyia has been formally invited to lead a transparent review of the exam, promising to publicly share findings after the investigation. Meanwhile, thousands of affected candidates have lodged formal complaints, with some preparing to take legal action against JAMB for the technical failures that allegedly compromised their performance.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, defended the results as evidence of effective anti-malpractice efforts but acknowledged the need for investigation. JAMB has assured candidates that any verified technical problems will be addressed promptly, including fair rescheduling where necessary.
The mass failure and subsequent review have sparked widespread debate on social media, with candidates and parents demanding accountability and transparency. JAMB’s swift response aims to restore confidence in the examination system and ensure fairness for all candidates.
