NIGERIA: JAMB Registrar Breaks Down In Tears In Abuja, Apologises Over 2025 UTME Glitches

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

In an emotional moment rarely seen in Nigeria’s public service, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, broke into tears on Wednesday while publicly apologising for the widespread technical errors that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, Prof. Oloyede admitted to “one or two errors” in the conduct of the examination but grew visibly emotional and tearful as he acknowledged the impact on hundreds of thousands of candidates.

“I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates,” he said, struggling to maintain composure. “It was never our intention to put any student through distress.”

According to figures disclosed at the briefing, a total of 379,997 candidates in Lagos and across the South East geopolitical zone were directly affected by examination disruptions due to technical glitches and logistical lapses.

“206,610 candidates in 65 centres were affected in Lagos, and 173,387 candidates in 92 centres across the five states of the South East were also impacted,” the registrar stated.

The UTME, a critical examination for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, tests students on four subjects, including the mandatory use of English — based on their intended field of study.

The aftermath of the 2025 exam has drawn significant criticism and concern from parents, educators, and stakeholders following the release of shocking performance statistics.

Out of 1,955,069 results processed, over 75% of candidates (about 1.5 million) scored below 200 out of a maximum of 400.

Only 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 and above, with a mere 4,756 candidates (0.24%) attaining 320 and above , a performance band considered excellent.

The bulk of the scores fell between 140 and 199, while over 2,000 candidates scored below 100.

The poor performance has ignited national debate over the quality of education, exam management, and fairness of the assessment system. Meanwhile, legal threats loom, with some aggrieved candidates and parents already threatening to file lawsuits against JAMB over the anomalies.

Education advocates are calling for a comprehensive audit of the 2025 UTME process and a review of JAMB’s operational model, particularly in the area of digital infrastructure, as trust in the examination body faces a severe test.