Nigerians have expressed their disappointment over the controversy rocking the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB after the examination board confessed that there were some glitches and discrepancies that followed the results.
The JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede admitted errors in the just-concluded UTME affecting 206,610 candidates in 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in Owerri zone, comprising 173,387 candidates in the five states of the South East.
While the registrar has taken responsibility for the fault and errors in the result amidst tears, and has promised that affected candidates would be allowed to resit for the exams, the situation has elicited criticism from Nigerians.
Some of the reactions on Thursday include former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who urged JAMB and similar critical bodies to adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks, adding that these include rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure.
He noted that while JAMB’s swift response and willingness to own up to its shortcomings are worthy of recognition, the incident has brought to light a far more troubling reality.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the emotional and psychological toll on students, and even parents, some of whom have reportedly suffered severe trauma, and in heartbreaking cases, even death, serves as a reminder of what is at stake.
Peter Obi said: “I recently watched the heartfelt press conference delivered by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in which he acknowledged that technical glitches had affected the recently released JAMB results, impacting 379,997 candidates. His open admission of fault and the expression of deep remorse stand out as a rare but commendable display of accountability in our public institutions.
“But it raises a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc it’s creating in our country, even in critical institutions like JAMB.
“While JAMB’s swift response and willingness to own up to its shortcomings are worthy of recognition, the incident has brought to light a far more troubling reality: the persistent fragility of our institutional systems.
“The emotional and psychological toll on students, and even parents, some of whom have reportedly suffered severe trauma, and in heartbreaking cases, even death, serves as a reminder of what is at stake. The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress.
“Going forward, JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure. Moreover, transparent communication with candidates and stakeholders, coupled with the prompt resolution of arising issues, is essential to restoring public confidence.
“There must be no room for further glitches – not in JAMB, not in any arm of government. The cost of repeated failure is simply too high.”
In addition, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, has called for the resignation of the JAMB Registrar in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Adeyemi insists that Oloyede’s tearful apology could not rectify the damage caused by JAMB’s mistakes.
He cited the tragic case of 19-year-old Timilehin Faith Opesusi, a candidate who reportedly took her own life due to her disappointing score in the recently concluded UTME.
“Jamb Registrar’s tears and apology can’t redeem the lost soul of our student who committed suicide, the Ogbomosho fatal accident and the girl who went missing for two days.
“He should accept fate and leave while the ovation is loud. This is not a technical error without human input.
“We can commend him later for owning up and taking full responsibility of the issue after all promises and corrections are successfully made,” the NANS PRO wrote on Facebook.
Adeyemi asserted that there was not a single paragraph in Oloyede’s address that expressed condolences to the families who have experienced various losses during this time.
