In an emotional press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, broke down in tears as he issued a heartfelt apology for errors that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The mishap, attributed to technical oversights, has forced 379,997 candidates across Lagos and the South-East to rewrite the exam, casting a shadow over what was initially hailed as JAMB’s most successful UTME.
A Tearful Admission of Fault
Prof. Oloyede, visibly moved and wiping tears with a handkerchief, took full responsibility for the errors, which he described as “easily avoidable.” He expressed deep regret for the trauma inflicted on candidates, stating,
“I apologize for the distress caused to the candidates. Today marks a moment we shall not soon forget, a day that should have been filled with celebration but is now overshadowed by the negligence of one or two persons.”
The JAMB boss revealed that the errors stemmed from a failure to update delivery servers, an oversight by technical personnel deployed by the service provider for the Lagos and South-East zones. This glitch went undetected until after the results were released, affecting a significant number of candidates.
Scope of the Error and Rewrite Plan
The technical failure impacted 157 examination centres, with 65 centres (206,610 candidates) in Lagos State and 92 centres (173,387 candidates) in the Owerri zone, covering the five South-East states (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo).
To rectify the issue, JAMB has scheduled a rewrite for the affected candidates, though specific dates were not announced during the briefing.
“In simple terms, the technical personnel inadvertently failed to update some of the delivery servers, and this oversight was not caught before the results were published,” Oloyede explained.
He assured candidates that JAMB is working to ensure a seamless resit process and prevent future occurrences.
Public Reaction and JAMB’s Commitment
The announcement has sparked widespread concern among candidates and parents, with many taking to social media platforms to express frustration over the added stress and logistical challenges of a rewrite.
Some praised Oloyede’s transparency and accountability, while others called for improved oversight to avoid such errors in the future.
Oloyede reiterated JAMB’s commitment to fairness and excellence, emphasizing that the board would investigate the root causes of the error and hold those responsible accountable.
“We are determined to restore confidence in the UTME process and ensure no candidate is unfairly disadvantaged,” he said.
Moving Forward
The rewrite announcement comes at a critical time for candidates awaiting admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
JAMB has promised to provide detailed logistics for the resit, including support for affected candidates to minimize disruptions. The board also urged candidates to remain calm and check official JAMB platforms for updates.
For more information, visit the JAMB official website.
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