The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced a comprehensive review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results, following widespread concerns over technical issues and poor performance.
According to The PUNCH, the review, slated for Thursday, will involve vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, school principals, examiners, and experts from across Nigeria’s education and technology sectors. According to JAMB, the goal is to critically assess the examination process and address the complaints from candidates and stakeholders.
A JAMB internal memo obtained by The PUNCH stated, “The management of the board has approved your participation to be part of the review panel constituted to appraise the conduct of the examination with the mandate to identify challenges, if any, and proffer relevant recommendations to prevent a recurrence.”
This move comes after over 75% of the 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 marks out of 400, sparking outrage and allegations of technical hitches during the examination. Many candidates and parents took to social media, accusing JAMB of result inconsistencies.
JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin confirmed that the board was fast-tracking its usual post-exam review process due to the “unusual complaints” coming especially from certain states. “We are currently scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify any potential technical issues,” he said.
According to JAMB statistics, only 0.24% of candidates scored 320 and above, while 0.39% scored between 300 and 319. A majority—50.29%—scored between 160 and 199, a range commonly seen as the cut-off point for many universities.
“We understand the gravity of the concerns raised by candidates and their guardians. The review process is part of our commitment to transparency and fairness,” Dr. Benjamin added.
Some candidates have gone as far as threatening legal action against JAMB. A social media user, identified as @Pennyfabz, expressed disbelief over her score of 156, stating she previously scored 285 in an earlier UTME. “Dear @JAMBHQ, something is wrong with my result. I can’t go from 285 to 156,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Parents also raised alarms. “We demand a remark from JAMB. These are exceptional students scoring below 200. Many complained of incomplete questions and other technical issues,” one parent lamented.
Despite the uproar, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the outcome as a reflection of the government’s intensified efforts against examination malpractice. “The results are evidence that the reforms are working. We are committed to restoring integrity to our education system,” Alausa said.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the 2025 UTME results fall in line with trends from previous years. “This is not new. In fact, the performance statistics are consistent with what we’ve recorded over the past 12 years,” he explained.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. A 15-year-old student, Afolabi Ayodeji of Icons Comprehensive College, Akure, made headlines by scoring an exceptional 370—the highest UTME score in over a decade. His subject breakdown showed near-perfect scores in Mathematics and Physics.
“I didn’t set out to break any record; I just wanted to give my best,” Ayodeji said in reaction to his achievement. “I thank God, my parents, and my teachers for believing in me.”
