2025 UTME: Ex-Provost attributes JAMB’s error to human failure
Former Provost of the College of Education, Ilesa, now University of Education, Ilesa, Osun State, Professor Kolawole Kola-Kazeem, has described the error by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as a clear case of human failure.
He demanded that those responsible for the error be held accountable to prevent a recurrence.
Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Professor Kola-Kazeem noted the emotional gravity of the situation and the need for systemic change.
“If you see a 70-year-old man cry on live television, that should speak volumes. That tells you the situation is beyond what he feels should be. That tells you how big the situation is. We should understand that whatever has happened is based on human error, and whoever is responsible for all of these infractions should be dealt with. One of the things we have here is that each time there are infractions, there are no consequences. Consequences must be given,” he stated.
Professor Kazeem also highlighted the unjust impact on students, and said that necessary amendments should be made.
“Some children have been punished unnecessarily, unjustifiably. So we should find a way of ensuring that such things do not repeat themselves. We must support the Registrar to make all the necessary amendments so that this does not happen again,” he said.
Education and human resource expert, Yomi Fawehinmi, also criticised JAMB’s handling of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). He questioned the board’s decision to continue with the exams despite noticing technical issues and called for comprehensive reform of the university admissions process.
“These errors were not discovered because JAMB did enough self-introspection. If you read the press release by the Registrar, he said they noticed something went wrong while the examination was ongoing. I’m concerned that JAMB noticed something was not right and did not immediately stop the exam,” the expert noted.
