Over the years, many Nigerians have believed that JAMB exists mainly to conduct the UTME. But according to the board’s Registrar, that is one of the biggest misconceptions about the agency.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede says the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is not an examination body, but an educational assessment and admission agency whose primary responsibility is to coordinate entry into tertiary institutions.
He made the clarification at the maiden Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, where seven undergraduates shared ₦35 million in prizes.
Oloyede explained that although JAMB conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the examination is only one of the tools the board uses to carry out its admission responsibilities.
“We conduct exams, but we are not an examination company. You cannot say the University of Lagos is an examination body because it conducts examinations. The same way, JAMB conducts exams, but JAMB is not an examination body,” he said.
He noted that many people wrongly compare JAMB with examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
According to him, the difference lies in their mandates.
“If you want to know what an examination body is, look at WAEC or NECO. Their names clearly show they are examination bodies. JAMB is an educational assessment body, and its goal is admission, not examination,” he added.
Oloyede also argued that too much importance is attached to UTME scores, giving many candidates the impression that a high score automatically guarantees admission.
“There is a hype about UTME in Nigeria. People believe it is the golden key to tertiary institutions. It is not so,” he said.
He explained that admission into tertiary institutions is based on several factors, including UTME performance, O’Level results, subject combinations and other requirements set by individual institutions.
The JAMB registrar warned that celebrating candidates solely because of their UTME scores can be misleading, as some may not meet other admission conditions.
“Many people have high scores but do not have the required subject combinations or qualifications for admission. That is why celebrating UTME alone can be misleading,” he said.
Oloyede added that JAMB serves as a clearing house that ensures candidates are fairly placed into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education based on merit and institutional requirements.
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