The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched a formal review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) process, responding to widespread complaints from candidates about technical glitches, examination malpractices, and result discrepancies. Announced on May 10, 2025, the decision follows intense public criticism that threatened to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s premier university entrance examination, which saw over 1.8 million candidates participate in April 2025.
The 2025 UTME, conducted across 700 computer-based test centers, was marred by issues that sparked outrage among candidates and parents. Many reported system failures, including frozen screens and incomplete question displays, which disrupted testing sessions, particularly in urban centers like Lagos and Abuja. Candidates also alleged irregularities in result processing, with some claiming their scores did not reflect their performance. High-profile cases of malpractices, especially in Anambra and Lagos, where over 350 candidates were sanctioned for cheating, further fueled discontent. JAMB’s initial release of results on May 9, 2025, was met with protests from candidates who demanded transparency and corrections.
The review, ordered by JAMB’s registrar, Dr. Oloyede Ishaq, will examine the entire examination lifecycle, from registration to result computation. A special committee, comprising education experts and IT specialists, has been tasked with investigating technical failures, verifying the integrity of results, and assessing the conduct of test centers. JAMB has promised to re-evaluate scripts for candidates who reported anomalies, with a deadline of June 2025 for resolving disputes. The board has also suspended 10 test centers pending investigations into allegations of collusion with candidates to facilitate cheating, such as leaking questions or bypassing biometric verification.
The controversy has highlighted systemic challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, including inadequate infrastructure and the pressure to secure limited university slots. JAMB has acknowledged lapses in some centers, attributing them to power outages and outdated equipment, and vowed to upgrade facilities ahead of the 2026 UTME. The board has also intensified its crackdown on malpractice, deploying AI-driven surveillance and collaborating with security agencies to prosecute offenders. Over 76% of candidates scored above 200 out of 400, but the review aims to ensure fairness for those affected by technical or administrative errors.
Public trust in JAMB is at stake, with stakeholders calling for broader reforms, including decentralizing testing and increasing capacity to accommodate Nigeria’s growing youth population. The review’s outcome will determine whether affected candidates receive adjusted scores or retests, with implications for university admissions in the 2025/2026 academic year. As JAMB works to restore confidence, the episode underscores the need for robust systems to support Nigeria’s educational aspirations.