The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will on Thursday convene a high-level review meeting over the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, following widespread public dissatisfaction and allegations of discrepancies.
According to a notice obtained by Hobnob News in Abuja, the meeting will bring together vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, secondary school principals, examiners, and ICT professionals. The panel aims to scrutinise the UTME process and address the surge of concerns raised by candidates, parents, and other stakeholders.
The development follows mounting protests over the results released last Friday, with many candidates alleging technical malfunctions, inconsistent scoring, and misrepresentation of their performance.
The panel, which includes members from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Educational Assessment and Research Network, has been tasked with identifying challenges and making recommendations to enhance future assessments. JAMB emphasized that participation in the panel is voluntary and at no cost to the board.
The 2025 UTME saw over 1.9 million candidates take the exam, with more than 1.5 million scoring below 200 out of a possible 400—a statistic that has triggered alarm within the education sector.
Breakdown of results:
Only 0.63% scored 300 and above.
About 17.11% scored between 200–249.
Over 50% scored between 160–199.
Approximately 25% fell within the 140–159 range.
Less than 1% scored below 120.
In response to the outcry, JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin confirmed that the board has fast-tracked its annual post-examination review, which covers the registration process, exam administration, and result processing phases.
“We are particularly concerned about the unusual number of complaints from certain states and are thoroughly investigating them,” Benjamin stated.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, maintained that the 2025 performance trends are consistent with results recorded over the past 12 years. He noted similar outcomes in previous years, with 76% of candidates in 2024 and 78% in 2022 scoring below 200.
Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa described the results as evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice initiatives are producing the intended effects. He reiterated the government’s commitment to exam integrity and fairness.
Despite this stance, thousands of candidates have rejected their results, claiming they do not reflect their actual performance. Over 8,000 complaints have been submitted, many citing technical errors, incomplete questions, or exam disruptions. A number of students are also threatening legal action unless a review is conducted.
One notable protest came from a candidate who posted online that her score had plummeted from 285 in 2024 to 156 in 2025, demanding that JAMB re-evaluate the grading process.
Amid the discontent, a remarkable achievement has emerged. Afolabi Ayodeji, a 15-year-old student from Icons Comprehensive College in Akure, Ondo State, scored an unprecedented 370 out of 400—marking the highest UTME score recorded since the computer-based test format began in 2013.
Ayodeji scored 98 in both Mathematics and Physics, 94 in Chemistry, and 80 in Use of English. His performance is being celebrated as a beacon of excellence amid a turbulent testing year.
“I just wanted to do my best,” Ayodeji said, expressing gratitude to his family and teachers.
As scrutiny of the 2025 UTME intensifies, stakeholders await Thursday’s meeting with high expectations that reforms and transparency will follow.
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