Minister commends JAMB for upholding global standards in 2025 UTME

By Kunle Sanni

Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the seamless and transparent conduct of the 2025–26 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing it as a model of integrity and international best practices.

Following a monitoring tour of several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and JAMB’s central control room, Dr. Alausa described the exam process as “foolproof against cheating” and “coordinated with the highest level of integrity,” expressing pride in Nigeria’s ability to deliver such excellence.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to educational reform, noting that President Bola Tinubu prioritizes human capital development through improvements in education, healthcare, and the rule of law.

In a major policy shift, the Minister announced that beginning November 2025, both WAEC and NECO will adopt CBT for the objective sections of their exams, with full CBT integration—including essay components—slated for May/June 2026. He described the transition as a critical step toward eliminating examination malpractice and promoting merit-based assessment.

Speaking at the same event, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, described the 2025 UTME as one of the most successful in the Board’s history. He clarified that the first session of each exam day begins at 8:00 a.m., and candidates are expected to arrive early for biometric screening involving hundreds of candidates per centre.

Professor Oloyede also refuted allegations that candidates were posted to unselected centres, challenging critics to provide evidence and affirming the integrity of the placement process. He disclosed that over 40 impersonators had been arrested, highlighting JAMB’s zero-tolerance policy on examination fraud.

“JAMB will not reschedule missed exams,” he stated. “If you miss an international flight, the plane doesn’t turn around for you.”

According to JAMB, more than 1.6 million of the 2.03 million registered candidates have completed their exams, with results currently undergoing thorough verification before being released.