The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the results of the rescheduled 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The examination body indicated that of the 379,000 candidates affected by technical glitches in Lagos and the five South-East states, 336,845 sat for the exercise, while 21,082 were absent.
In a statement on Sunday, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the board has extended an olive branch to the absentee candidates by offering them the opportunity to participate in the annual mop-up examination yet to be scheduled.
“This waiver is also extended to the candidates who, for whatever reason, missed the initial main UTME,” it said.
The board disclosed that it had arrested several culprits, with over 3,000 candidates identified as accomplices or beneficiaries of examination fraud.
JAMB added: “Despite the ongoing inquiries, performance analysis remains consistent (between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016) with results from the past twelve years.
“While this situation is unfortunate, it has also revealed numerous alarming practices perpetrated by candidates, certain proprietors of schools/Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, which have exacerbated examination irregularities,” the board explained.
The release of the results came after JAMB convened a meeting of its Chief External Examiners (CEEs) in all states of the federation to consider the outcome of the resit examination.
It further explained that after considering the report and engaging in extensive deliberations, a subcommittee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who is also the CEE for the FCT, was constituted to confirm that the results were in order. The CEEs also reviewed the exercise and directed that an expert in psychometrics, Prof. Boniface Nworgu, be invited to analyse and endorse the results for subsequent release.
The board said, “As part of the healing process, the meeting also resolved that the withheld results of underage candidates (except where litigation is involved), who performed below established standards, be released.
On the activities of tutorial centres, the board stated: “The meeting observed with great concern the role of some tutorial centres in the perpetration of examination malpractices. It urged governments at all levels to take appropriate steps to ensure that operators of tutorial centres are properly regulated, licensed, and constantly monitored. This is to curtail the initiation of candidates into the path of dishonesty.”
The meeting acknowledged the significant contributions of Computer-Based Testing in reducing instances of examination malpractice and in advancing the nation toward a digital society. It noted that, “Despite some shortcomings, CBT remains the viable option for ensuring a malpractice-free examination process.”
It also acknowledged the detailed and rigorous processes adopted by the Board in accrediting CBT centres through state panels led by the CEEs.
“However, it was advised that a reputable firm of management consultants be engaged to advise on improving the process of accrediting CBT centres, registration procedures, and other critical operational stages,” the board added.
JAMB said the meeting “expressed regret at attempts by some groups to exploit the unfortunate incident to disseminate tribal and sectional narratives.”
“The unfortunate incident is not targeted at any section of the country, nor was it caused by any particular group. It was emphasised that such narratives risk exacerbating existing divisions within society and even within the JAMB workforce,” it warned.
According to the statement, the meeting commended the Registrar and the management of JAMB for the competent and sincere handling of the unfortunate incident and urged them to remain steadfast and courageous.
“Such results, however, do not qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-aged special admission.”
Another important resolution from the meeting, according to the board, was the release of the results of candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other misdemeanours.
“This category of candidates was found to have been involved in illicit solicitation of assistance. The meeting emphasised that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts, but rather a once-and-for-all waiver. Candidates were thus advised to refrain from joining questionable WhatsApp and other anti-social groups,” it explained.
JAMB said the meeting condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in serious registration and examination malpractices and resolved that all implicated centres be blacklisted while complicit owners be prosecuted.
“In addition, the identified individuals who directly registered the candidates with modified pictures and biometrics should be apprehended and prosecuted,” it said.
