The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed allegations that the technical issues encountered during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) stemmed from incompetence or ethnic prejudice.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at a press briefing with key stakeholders, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, addressed concerns surrounding the conduct of this year’s UTME, particularly the challenges that plagued the examination’s early days.
Professor Oloyede firmly rejected the notion that the errors were the result of sabotage or ethnic conspiracy. “There was no glitch or sabotage. It was a human error, and the individuals responsible have been identified. Their ethnic background is of no relevance to me; what matters is their competence and service delivery,” he stated.
He added, “I am saying this for the fourth time—there is no conspiracy theory at play here. The mistake was unintentional, and we rectified it. I have taken full responsibility on behalf of the Board.”
The Registrar cautioned against the ethnic profiling of Nigeria’s education sector and criticised those using the situation to promote divisive narratives. He encouraged stakeholders to focus on constructive solutions rather than spreading misinformation or sensational claims.
This comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the UTME, particularly in Lagos and the South-East, where server issues affected the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres. The technical fault, attributed to failed server updates, occurred during the first three days of the exam.
On 15 May, the House of Representatives announced a probe into JAMB’s operations due to the error. The South-East caucus in the House had earlier called for Professor Oloyede’s resignation and demanded the cancellation of the 2025 UTME, claiming the zone was disproportionately affected.
Despite mounting pressure, JAMB has announced plans for mop-up examinations for affected candidates, assuring the public of its commitment to transparency and fairness.
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