JAMB Admits Errors in 2025 UTME, Orders Retake for Over 370,000 Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has acknowledged errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, following numerous complaints from candidates who received unexpectedly low scores despite strong academic histories. JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, confirmed that the issues stemmed from both human and technological factors. He expressed deep regret, stating, “It was a combination of human error and technology. We are sincerely sorry

Affected Candidates and Centres

Approximately 379,997 candidates across 157 centres are impacted by these errors. Of these, 206,610 candidates from 65 centres in Lagos State and 173,387 candidates from 92 centres in the Owerri zone, which includes Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, are affected. The discrepancies were identified after a thorough review of results from these regions.

Retake Arrangements and Apology

To rectify the situation, JAMB has scheduled a retake for the affected candidates starting Friday, May 16, 2025. Candidates will be contacted via text messages, emails, and phone calls to inform them of the new examination dates. Additionally, they are advised to reprint their examination slips for the rescheduled sessions. Professor Oloyede personally apologized for the oversight, stating, “I take full responsibility, not just in words.

Institutional Reactions

The admission of error has elicited various responses from public figures. Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, commended JAMB for its transparency and accountability, noting that the board did not deflect blame but instead addressed the issue head-on. Conversely, activist Omoyele Sowore called for the dissolution of JAMB, expressing frustration over the recurring issues with the examination process.

Moving Forward

JAMB has pledged to implement measures to prevent such errors in future examinations. The board is collaborating with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to ensure that the rescheduled UTME does not conflict with ongoing WAEC examinations. Candidates are encouraged to stay informed through official JAMB communications for updates on the retake process.

Written By Fortune Davidson