The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the statistical breakdown of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, revealing concerning trends in candidate performance.
Out of 1,955,069 candidates, over 50% scored between 160 and 199, while only 6.74% managed to score 250 and above. Experts worry about academic preparedness, as over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, potentially influencing admission cut-off marks.
In response to public outcry over the results, JAMB convened a high-level technical review session on May 14, 2025, at its headquarters in Abuja. Led by Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the meeting included systems analysts, CBT Centre regulators, and software engineers, aiming to uncover possible technical flaws.
The review found that 157 examination centres in Lagos and the South-East operated on outdated server logic due to an unpatched system, leading to answer validation mismatches that impacted 379,997 candidates. Independent verification by the Educare Technical Team, which analyzed 15,000 candidate records, confirmed the issue.
JAMB Admits Error, Apologizes
During a press briefing, Prof. Oloyede broke down in tears, apologising for the distress caused to affected candidates. He admitted that errors in server deployment led to distorted results and pledged full accountability. His emotional apology sparked mixed reactions, with some Nigerians questioning its sincerity, while others called for his resignation.
Concerns have also emerged regarding the regional concentration of affected centres, as only Lagos and the five South-East states experienced the glitches. This has led to speculation about whether the errors were deliberate or coincidental, prompting calls for further investigation into potential bias in the examination process.
To address the problem, affected candidates were advised to reprint their examination slips for revised test schedules by May 17, 2025. JAMB emphasised that the incident was not a system failure or manipulation, but a human error in server deployment. The Board has pledged further investigations and improved system oversight to prevent future occurrences.
Public Reaction To JAMB’s Apology
Public reaction to JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede’s tearful apology has been mixed, with many Nigerians expressing outrage, scepticism, and demands for accountability. While some praised his transparency, others dismissed his emotional response as insufficient, calling for his immediate resignation.
Critics argue that JAMB’s negligence has caused irreparable damage, with reports of a student allegedly committing suicide due to distress over their UTME results. Many Nigerians believe that shedding tears does not absolve the Board of responsibility, and some have even called for criminal prosecution of those involved.
Others questioned why only Lagos and the South-East states were affected, raising concerns about possible regional bias.
Despite the backlash, some Nigerians commended Oloyede’s courage in admitting the error, though they insist that JAMB must implement systemic reforms to prevent future failures. The Board has scheduled re-examinations for affected candidates, but critics argue that a two-day window is inadequate, with calls for an extension of at least two weeks.
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