The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has engaged leading IT specialists and educational assessment professionals to investigate alleged technical glitches that reportedly affected the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to Hobnob News, multiple candidates claimed that technical failures played a major role in the widespread underperformance witnessed this year. Out of 1.9 million candidates who sat for the UTME, over 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of a total of 400 marks.
Alex Onyia, education advocate and CEO of Educare, stated on Sunday that thousands of affected students were preparing to initiate legal proceedings against JAMB. “Currently, 8,391 students have submitted complaints regarding system failures during the 2025 UTME,” Onyia posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, @winexv. “There’s sufficient evidence suggesting that JAMB’s system malfunctioned, negatively impacting students’ performance and mental well-being.”
He further demanded transparency from the exam body, urging JAMB to release detailed mark sheets showing candidates’ scores, correct answers, and a clear dispute-resolution process. “The future of these students hangs in the balance,” he said.
In response, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the board had initiated a full-scale investigation into its examination system. He stated that this step was part of a broader post-examination review prompted by “unusual complaints” originating from a few states.
“To ensure objectivity, we’ve engaged professionals from the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, top university administrators serving as Chief External Examiners, the Educational Assessment and Research Network in Africa, measurement specialists, and Vice Chancellors from leading institutions,” Dr. Benjamin disclosed.
He clarified that while the complaints were being taken seriously, they were not considered widespread. Nonetheless, the board promised that any confirmed irregularities would be addressed promptly and fairly.
JAMB also reiterated its policy of rescheduling exams for candidates who encounter verified technical challenges during testing, reaffirming its commitment to fairness and transparency throughout the examination process.
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