The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to conduct a mop-up examination for candidates who missed the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to various circumstances.
This was disclosed by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja with Chief External Examiners, State Technical Advisers, and other key participants.
“We are immediately making the decision that all those who missed the examination—about 5 to 6 percent of the candidates—for whatever reason, will be accommodated in a mop-up exam,” Oloyede stated.
He explained that this decision aligns with the board’s tradition of providing a nationwide annual mop-up for candidates with genuine challenges and emphasized that this opportunity would also extend to those who missed the earlier rescheduled exam.
“We’re not doing anything wrong. In the university system, we have makeup examinations; the only thing is to avoid abuse. We want to be fair to everyone who missed the exams for legitimate reasons,” he said.
Technical Glitches and Emotional Toll
Prof. Oloyede also spoke candidly about the technical issues that disrupted the UTME in parts of the South-East and Lagos State, admitting the situation took a personal toll.
“When it happened, my first reaction was to resign. But people told me that the students would feel abandoned, and that kept me going,” he revealed.
Despite criticism over the rapid rescheduling of the disrupted exams, Oloyede defended the decision, citing the tight academic calendar students must follow.
“People asking why we rescheduled quickly don’t understand how the system works. After JAMB’s UTME, WASSCE starts in May, then NECO, then NABTEB—all taken by the same students. Delays would affect admissions into NDA, Police Academy, and Air Force exams. We had no choice,” he explained.
Emphasis on National Responsibility
Oloyede stressed that his decisions were driven by national interest and fairness, not regional or personal bias.
“As JAMB’s chief executive, I don’t care where any staff comes from. What matters is that they do their jobs. My emotional reaction wasn’t weakness—it was empathy. We must not politicize these issues or allow opportunists to take advantage of challenges,” he warned.
During the meeting, a minute of silence was observed for a candidate who allegedly died by suicide due to the exam outcome. Oloyede described the incident as deeply emotional and painful, underscoring the need for compassion and care in managing exam-related crises.
Stakeholders Commend JAMB Leadership
In his remarks, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, Chairman of the Chief External Examiners group, commended Prof. Oloyede’s leadership during the crisis.
“We appreciate the leadership he has shown by taking responsibility, even though the issues weren’t directly his fault. Let us all work together to move Nigeria forward. This country is vital—not only to Africa but globally,” Tenebe said.
ADEOLA KUNLE
