JAMB’s 2025 UTME Scandal: A wake-up call for accountability in Nigeria’s education system, by Dr. Tukur Madu Yemi
The strength of any country’s education system depends on the honesty and efficiency of its public examination bodies. In Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) plays a key role in organising the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) – the main path to university admission for our youth.
But the recent scandal surrounding the 2025 UTME has shaken public trust and revealed serious problems in the system. This is not just a simple mistake; it is a national disgrace. It shows clearly that our education sector needs urgent reforms and strong accountability.
A Crisis of Confidence
JAMB has admitted to major errors in how UTME results were calculated and released. This has led to confusion and frustration for thousands of students and their families. These young Nigerians prepared and worked hard, only to be let down by a system that should have protected their future.
As a university lecturer who cares deeply about the credibility of our education system, I find this incident deeply troubling. If UTME results cannot be trusted, then university admissions based on those results become questionable—and the quality of our higher education is at risk.
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A Repeated Problem We’ve Overlooked
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about UTME’s reliability. Studies have shown that high UTME scores don’t always translate to good performance in university. Some students with high scores struggle academically, while others with lower scores do very well.
This mismatch raises serious doubts about how accurate and fair the UTME really is. The current scandal is just the latest warning sign in a long pattern of problems that we have ignored for too long.
A Nationwide Reassessment Is a Must
JAMB’s apology and offer to re-check only some results is not enough. What Nigeria needs now is a nationwide reassessment of all 2025 UTME candidates. This process must be open, honest, and supervised by independent experts.
This is not just about fixing a mistake—it is about doing what is right. A full reassessment will help restore faith in the system and show that we take our students’ future seriously.
We Must Demand Accountability
This scandal shows a bigger problem: lack of accountability in our institutions. We must not settle for excuses or temporary fixes. A full investigation should be launched, led by neutral experts including academics, ICT professionals, lawyers, and civil society leaders.
The public deserves clear answers:
What went wrong?
Who is to blame?
What systems failed?
How can we prevent this from happening again?
Leadership Must Take Responsibility
The Registrar of JAMB should take full responsibility for this failure. In many countries, such a serious error would lead to the resignation of the person in charge. That is what leadership and integrity demand.
Calling for the Registrar’s resignation is not personal—it is a call for accountability. Stepping down would show that JAMB is ready for change and serious about rebuilding trust.
Time for Real Change
Nigeria is now at a crossroads. We can either continue with the same broken system, or we can use this scandal as a turning point to demand real change.
I strongly join others in calling for the following:
1. A full reassessment of all 2025 UTME candidates;
2. Public release of all errors, causes, and those responsible;
3. Major reforms in JAMB to improve transparency and fairness;
4. Immediate resignation of the JAMB Registrar to open the way for fresh, accountable leadership.
Anything less would be a great disservice to the hopes and dreams of millions of young Nigerians. It would also encourage more carelessness and dishonesty in our public institutions.
Let this be the moment we say “enough is enough.” Let us choose truth over cover-ups, courage over silence, and real reform over empty promises.
This scandal should not define us—but the way we respond to it will.
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