ABUJA, Nigeria – A wave of outrage has erupted across the country following the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, with students, parents, and educators calling out the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over widespread irregularities, technical failures, and what many describe as systemic negligence.
From urban hubs like Lagos and Port Harcourt to rural communities in Enugu and Kano, the complaints have been loud and consistent: delayed results, inexplicably low scores, disrupted exams at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, and, most notably, the exclusion of underage candidates despite prior waivers.
“I paid N12,000 to register through a private school in Sango-Ota, only to be told JAMB stopped vending PINs for underage candidates. I didn’t get the PIN or my money back,” said 15-year-old Nkem Reward, visibly distressed.
This year, JAMB had announced a policy allowing gifted underage students to register, but stakeholders say it was poorly executed, lacking clear communication and consistent enforcement.
Parents are expressing not just frustration, but emotional devastation on behalf of their children. “This is not just a setback—it’s emotional trauma,” said Joseph Ishika, whose daughter’s result remains unreleased. “There’s no word from JAMB. Children are questioning their worth. It’s heartbreaking.”
School administrators are also raising red flags. A Lagos school proprietor, requesting anonymity, shared that only one of 19 registered students received a result. “My own daughter’s result is still pending. Parents are demanding answers, and we have none.”
In Delta State, the issues were not only administrative. According to teacher Mrs. Okeoghene Winifred, the actual conduct of the UTME was riddled with technical failures—ranging from biometric mismatches to power outages and poor supervision. “Some students didn’t finish their exams, yet they were given scores. It doesn’t make sense,” she said.
The silence from JAMB has only compounded the tension. Candidates with withheld results report no way to follow up, while CBT centres have provided no guidance.
Education consultant Mr. Olutope Michael called for an immediate independent audit of this year’s UTME. “The credibility of the system is at stake. JAMB must rebuild trust with transparency, better CBT infrastructure, and a functional complaint system,” he urged. He also advised students to explore alternatives such as JUPEB, IJMB, and diploma programmes.
A public school teacher from the Niger Delta said the poor performance—where only 30% of students scored above 200—signals deeper issues. “Many candidates are simply not ready for CBT exams due to digital illiteracy,” she said, adding that early exposure to JAMB is often encouraged by parents as practice, but not supported by a system that is prepared to accommodate them.
She called for urgent investment in digital training for both students and teachers and emphasized the need to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural schools.
As criticism mounts, stakeholders are demanding not just answers but reforms. For now, the silence from JAMB continues to deepen the frustration of thousands of affected families, leaving them in limbo as the academic calendar ticks on.
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