MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES

Press Conference Address on the Complaints about the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) Results by the Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, FNAL, at the Boardroom of JAMB National Headquarters, Bwari, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025

1.0 First of All

Esteemed members of the press, I stand before you today with a profound sense of duty and emotion regarding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, which have sparked significant discussion in both public and social spheres. I want to express my gratitude for your presence here today, particularly to the media, whose thorough reporting has brought attention to the announcement of the 2025 UTME results made on Friday, May 9, 2025. We also extend our thanks to those who have voiced their concerns regarding the results we released; your feedback stems from genuine care. I hold our critics in high regard, as they chose to engage rather than remain apathetic. I resonate with the sentiment that indifference is the true opposite of love, art, faith, and life. By showing concern for JAMB, we are truly thankful. Today marks a moment we shall not soon forget – a day that should have been a celebration of what was once seen as our most successful UTME exercise. Unfortunately, this moment of joy has been overshadowed by a preventable mistake made by one or two persons.

There has been considerable discussion following the release of the 2025 UTME results on May 9, 2025. Although JAMB typically addresses concerns in a timely manner, The increased public outcry has made it necessary to speed up the review of the situation, which was initially set for June.

I would like to emphasize that our investigation has identified valid reasons for the complaints regarding the 2025 UTME results, and this press conference aims to transparently present the findings of our inquiry. It is important to acknowledge our human nature, but first, I must highlight the extensive measures JAMB undertakes to maintain quality in its operations.

2.0 JAMB and Quality Assurance

Respected members of the press, the operations of JAMB highlight the value of quality assurance cannot be emphasised. I assure you that we strive diligently to ensure that quality assurance practices are integrated into every aspect of our work, from inception to completion. We work tirelessly and maintain high standards, which is why we have established guidelines, checklists, and protocols that govern our processes from registration through monitoring and supervision to result processing. Recognizing that collaboration is essential, we have formed various committees that contribute to our quality assurance framework. These include the Peace Monitors, comprising 41 distinguished women who are or have been Principal Officers at Nigerian universities; Chief External Examiners (CEEs), who are Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts from universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education; and Chief Technical Advisers in each state, who are esteemed professors specializing in computing and cybersecurity. Additionally, we have the Peace Monitors, Civil Society Group, Equal Opportunity Group, General Monitors Group, High-powered Opinion Leaders, Roving Group, Technical Advisors Group, and Virtues Vanguards. Each of these groups plays a vital role in supporting our staff to ensure quality and address any challenges that may arise.

Also, we also have an in-house consultant and expert in software development and cybersecurity. Since 2017, we’ve been using mock exams mainly to ensure our systems are working properly and to make any necessary changes before the actual exams, considering how technology can be. Our Technical Officers take tests every year, and only the ones who pass are sent out to work, so we can avoid any issues with incompetence. All our exam officials are registered with their NINs to keep things efficient and accountable. We also have a strong team of electronic testing experts led by a well-known Software Engineering professor.

We provide our systems to important organizations both in Nigeria and abroad to make sure everything runs smoothly when we need it. This year, we upgraded our system from a form-based exam to a single item-based exam, which is now the international standard. We tested this new system, improved our Autobot and Autotest systems, and even created our own JAMBTEST software, developed by a small team led by our staff member, Dubem. We improved the examination system, ran full simulations before the exams, and thought we had everything figured out. We even used dummy tests this year, but despite all that, an error occurred. This is a timeless illustration of the principle that man proposes but God disposes.

3.0 Between KAD and LAG

I would like to share some insights into our operations at JAMB. Aware of Nigeria’s complexities, we utilize two operational frameworks, referred to as KAD and LAG, to navigate the country. The KAD framework encompasses the Northern states, excluding Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Kogi, and the FCT, while including all six South South states. Conversely, the LAG framework comprises the Southern states, excluding the six South South states, but includes Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Kogi, and the FCT. These frameworks are designed to serve all Nigerians, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the North and South. Therefore, we do not recognize a strict division between the two regions.

Following this year’s mock examinations, we conducted a review of our LAG and KAD examination systems. We discovered that the options for the examination items in the LAG category had not been randomized. We ordered this rearranging to be done. Following the required modifications, we carried out our routine testing and were happy with the outcomes. On the day prior to the exams, we also conducted what we call dummy, a simulation, and everything seemed to be in order. After extensive testing of our procedures, we were satisfied that we were prepared to move forward with the release of the examination items.

On the second day of this year’s examinations, Friday, April 25, 2025, we discovered that there was some omission in the items within the LAG category. An immediate update was implemented for corrections and grading adjustments, which were tested over the weekend. The successful update was applied after midnight on Tuesday, ensuring that all examinations from that day onward proceeded without issues. To rectify and re-upload the results affected by the pre-Tuesday glitch, the service providers for LAG were engaged to implement the necessary patch. However, there were patch errors at some centers for the first few days in just two locations. Specifically, 65 centers in the Lagos zone, affecting 206,610 candidates, and 92 centers in the Owerri zone, impacting 173,387 candidates from the South East states, were involved. Unfortunately, during the correction process, the technical team from the Service Provider for LAG inadvertently neglected to update certain delivery servers, and this oversight went unnoticed before the results were released.

It’s worth noting that last year we revamped our reporting system, which highlighted issues that had previously gone unnoticed and led to significant public backlash. In light of the concerns regarding what many labeled a ‘failure rate,’ we made adjustments this year. Only professional educators, who understand the distinction between achievement tests and selection tests (which the UTME ranking test is), were not alarmed. We believed that the adjustments made during preparation would yield improved performance statistics. we therefore were not surprised when the highest score in 2025 reached 374, marking the best performance last one and half decades as shown below.

List of Best UTME Candidates for the Past Twelve (12)Year

S/N	YEAR	REGISTRATION NUMBER	NAME	SCORE
1.	2024	202440343695GA	Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi	367
		202440097040EF	Alayande David	367
		202440089418GA	Orukpe Joel Ehijele	367
2.	2023	202330325356GA	Umeh Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere	360
3.	2022	202211075576JA	Adebayo Eyimofe Oluwatofunmi	362
4.	2021	10054281ID	Monwuba Chibuzo Chibuikem	358
5.	2020	21398306DF	Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes	365
6.	2019	96630270JC	Ezeunala Ekene Franklin.	347
7.	2018	86034528DA	Galadima Israel Zakari	364
8.	2017	75902784CB	Akingbulugbe Precious Ayomide	353
9.	2016	65290500BI	Akenbor Adesuwa Osarugue	359
10.	2016	65740193BF	Anonye Victory Emenike	359
11.	2015	55395199EB	Ilukwe Lottachukwu Geraldine	332
12.	2014	47049891HB	Onomejoh Princewill	299
13.	2013	37207292AB	Olise Israel Chukwunalu	299

The examinations were concluded on Wednesday and the results were ready. By the time the results were generically analysed, they did not depart radically from the tradition of the previous 12 years except that we gladly noticed improvement in the highest scorer. But contrary to our prediction, there was none in the overall as the performance was sadly poorer than that of last year; yet everything fell within the range of the existing pattern.

 COMPARISON OF UTME RESULTS SINCE INCEPTION (2013)

 Between Friday and Monday, the uproar could be said to have reached the highest decibel and it was coming from some respected voices in the society. Though JAMB usually responds to every complaint based on its merit, the nature of the clamour this time made us to fast-track the review process, a post-mortem analysis of the results that we would have done next month.

4.0 A Meeting of Minds

On the morning of Monday, May 12 2025, we issued a tentative press statement which includes “… If it is determined that there were indeed glitches, we will implement appropriate remedial measures promptly, as we do in the case of the examinations themselves.”  Apart from officials of JAMB and other Government agencies, such as, Nigeria Education and Research Development Council (NERDC), we also summoned some experts and professionals who graciously responded to us, including a renowned professor of psychometrics and esteemed expert in Test and Measurement, who is from Imo state, Prof. Boniface Nworgu; a technical advisor and expert from the Computer Professionals Council of Nigeria (CPN), Prof. Adenike Osofisan; a CPN Representative, Mr Bayo Onimode; the President of the Nigerian Academy of Education, Prof. Kabiru Isyaku; the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students,  among others. We immensely appreciate them for heeding our distress call.

Following a comprehensive day of dedicated work, we identified the root cause of the problem, which stemmed from 65 centers in Lagos and 92 centers in the Owerri region. In these locations, the service provider failed to properly implement the patch on some center servers, leading to a disruption in the upload of candidates’ responses during the initial three to four days in both Lagos and Owerri. The 2025 UTME had the potential to be our best yet, but it was spoiled by the carelessness and lack of concern from those in charge of this important but simple task. Upon discovering this, we convened the Chief External Examiners from Lagos, Imo, Anambra, Oyo, Abia, and Ebonyi—the six affected states. Thankfully, they all promptly joined the meeting. We also welcomed Prof. Bashir Galadanchi, a prominent Computer Science expert, and Dr. (Mrs) Bukola Dosunmu, a key advocate representing the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPSS). Also, we invited several of our outspoken critics to engage in a collaborative and honest discussion about the situation.

Despite being able to identify the source of the problem and the affected centres, we are conscious of the painful damage it has inflicted on the reputation of JAMB. As Registrar of JAMB, I hold myself personally responsible, including for the negligence of the service provider, and I unreservedly apologise for it and the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians to, directly and indirectly.  Once again, we apologise and assure you that this incident represents a significant setback for the Board’s reputation. We remain committed to emerging stronger in our core values of transparency, fairness, and equity.  It is our culture to admit error because we know that in spite of the best of our efforts, we are human, we are not perfect.  The only consolation we have in this case is that it is just one of the two service providers that did not do well by uploading improperly but it was not a case of glitches nor sabotage.

By Tuesday morning, with the CEEs, the experts and Mr Osita Chidoka (a former Minister of Aviation) of Athena Centre, we selected samples of responses and reviewed.  We compared the results and we are finding interesting correlations except in the 157 centres where distortions had occurred.

We have reached a consensus to sample each state within the Federation. Thus far, no irregularities have been observed in any centers apart from those previously mentioned, and the thorough process continues.

5.0 No Problem without a Solution

We have decided that all the candidates affected in the 157 centres out of 882 centres will be contacted to retake their examinations starting from Friday, May 16, 2025. These candidates are to be contacted through text messages addressed to their registered phone numbers, their email addresses, their profiles and phone calls by JAMB. They are directed to reprint their Examination Slips for the rescheduled examination dates.

We know that the WAEC exams are happening right now, but we’ve reached out to WAEC, and in an unprecedented show of solidarity they’ve kindly agreed to fit us into their schedule as much as they can. If any student has a timetable conflict, especially with Agricultural Science on Friday, they will be rescheduled. We’ve worked hard to make sure there are no conflicts. Most of these students are set for Saturday instead. Plus, the books required for the SSCE are the same ones needed for the UTME, except for the reading text in the UTME, which is only worth 10 marks in our Use of English test.

6.0 Appeal, Appreciation and Apology

I understand that there are three powerful expressions which contain one word, two words and three words respectively. They are please, thank you and I am sorry. So, I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment, PLEASE.  I apologise and take full responsibility not just in words.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Education for his steadfast support of JAMB and its mission. I also wish to acknowledge the dedication of all officers and officials who have shown us goodwill during this challenging time. We are committed to maintaining integrity as the core principle of JAMB, and we will remain steadfast in this commitment, acknowledging our human imperfections. I am thankful to all stakeholders who have provided their support and expertise in helping us reach a sound conclusion. I sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused, and on behalf of JAMB, I express my deepest regrets to all Nigerians.

Thank you and I can now entertain your questions.