The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has once again found itself at the center of controversy following a massive technical glitch that disrupted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), affecting nearly 80% of the 1.9 million students who participated. The incident, which has been described as a “deliberate negligence” by media personality Enioluwa, has ignited a firestorm of criticism regarding the competence and accountability of Nigeria’s educational institutions.
Enioluwa, in a widely circulated video, lambasted JAMB for its handling of the examination process, pointing out that despite a staggering budget of 18 billion naira (approximately 11 million dollars), the board failed to deliver a seamless experience for students. “This is not a technical issue; it’s a choice,” Enioluwa asserted, arguing that the normalization of such failures reflects a deeper malaise within the system where abnormalities are increasingly accepted as the norm.
The glitch, which occurred during the exam period from April 25 to May 1, 2025, led to the invalidation of results for 379,997 candidates across 157 centers in Lagos and the South-east, necessitating a rescheduled exam. JAMB’s registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, acknowledged the error and took full responsibility, but his emotional apology and the board’s decision to shift blame to service providers have done little to quell public outrage. Critics, including political figures like Peter Obi, have called for Oloyede’s resignation, labeling the incident as part of a pattern of recurring issues that undermine the future of Nigerian youth.
This is not the first time JAMB has faced such criticism. Similar complaints of technical glitches and low scores were reported in the 2024 UTME, raising questions about the board’s capacity to manage critical educational processes. The 2025 budget scrutiny further revealed concerns over financial mismanagement, with JAMB remitting only 4 billion naira to the Consolidated Revenue Fund while receiving 6 billion naira from the Federal Government, prompting lawmakers to question the justification for such funding.
The backlash has extended beyond JAMB, with calls for broader systemic reform in Nigeria’s education sector. Reports indicate that one in five out-of-school children globally is Nigerian, highlighting the urgent need for improved educational infrastructure and policy. The recurring nature of these issues, from election mismanagement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to JAMB’s exam failures, has led to a growing demand for accountability and competence in public institutions.
As students prepare to retake the exam amidst a clash with the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), the future of nearly 1.5 million young Nigerians hangs in the balance. The incident has not only disrupted their academic plans but also underscored the critical need for Nigeria to address its educational challenges to ensure a quality education for all, in line with global goals.
In response to the outcry, social media platforms have been flooded with demands for systemic change, with hashtags like #FixNigerianEducation trending. The question remains: will this latest fiasco be a catalyst for reform, or will it be another chapter in the saga of unaddressed systemic failures? Only time will tell as Nigeria grapples with the weight of its educational crisis.
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