The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) resit, conducted for candidates affected by technical issues during the initial exam.
In a statement issued on Sunday by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board disclosed that out of the 336,845 candidates scheduled for the resit, 21,082 were absent. Although no reasons were provided for the high absentee rate, JAMB announced a mop-up examination for absentees, including those without an officially recognized excuse.
JAMB expressed serious concern over widespread examination malpractice involving candidates, school proprietors, and CBT centres. A meeting of Chief External Examiners, chaired by Prof. Olufemi Peters, approved the release of the resit results based on psychometric analysis conducted by Prof. Boniface Nworgu.
The board also approved the release of results for underage candidates, clarifying that while the results are being released (except where litigation is involved), such candidates remain ineligible for admission. These candidates had signed an undertaking during registration, acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered under special underage admission.
As part of broader corrective measures, JAMB granted a one-time waiver for candidates found guilty of online malpractice, including participation in "WhatsApp runs" and other illicit activities. The board emphasized that this decision does not legitimize such acts and advised candidates to avoid anti-social platforms moving forward.
JAMB also stated that CBT centres found complicit in registration and examination malpractice would be blacklisted, and their proprietors prosecuted. Individuals involved in biometric or identity fraud will also face legal consequences. Those who manipulated candidates’ biometric data and photographs during registration are to be apprehended and prosecuted.
The board condemned the role of unregulated tutorial centres in facilitating malpractice and called for government oversight. It also reiterated its commitment to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) and announced plans to engage consultants to enhance the registration process.
Addressing attempts to politicize the technical failure along tribal lines, JAMB dismissed such narratives as divisive. The board emphasized that the technical glitch was not targeted at any region or group and urged national unity. The meeting commended the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the JAMB management for their transparent handling of the situation and encouraged them to remain resolute.
JAMB dismissed circulating claims of candidates scoring highly in the cancelled sessions, stating that 99% scored below 200, with only a few candidates scoring up to 217.
One such false claim involved Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, who alleged he scored 326 in the 2025 UTME. JAMB clarified that he had actually scored 180 and had altered his 2024 score of 203. His result was withdrawn, and he later deactivated his social media account following public criticism.
The original 2025 UTME results were released on May 9. However, on May 14, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed that the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in Lagos and the South-East were compromised due to a technical glitch. During a press conference, the Registrar became emotional while apologizing for the incident and confirmed that the affected candidates would retake the exam.
The issue was traced to a faulty server update that prevented proper upload of candidate responses during the first three days of the examination.
ADEOLA KUNLE
