The National Orientation Agency has applauded the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for openly acknowledging the lapses experienced during the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Paul Odenyi, NOA’s Deputy Director of Media and Communication, the agency praised JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, for what it described as a “rare and commendable act of leadership.”
Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the NOA, noted that the registrar’s openness in admitting the examination challenges reflected a strong commitment to institutional responsibility and public accountability.
“Such transparency is the hallmark of responsible governance and aligns with the National Values Charter which demands that public institutions operate with the highest level of integrity,” Onilu said.
While commending JAMB’s decision to reschedule exams for nearly 380,000 affected candidates in Lagos and the South-East, NOA urged the board to go further by implementing practical solutions to ease the burden on the students.
“While recognition of mistakes is the first step, redemption and restitution are necessary next steps,” Onilu stated. “It is important that JAMB considers appropriate measures—possibly including compensation—to address the stress and anxiety these young Nigerians have endured.”
The 2025 UTME was marred by technical errors that affected candidates in 157 centres—65 in Lagos and 92 across the South-East. The rescheduled exams, which began Thursday, are part of JAMB’s corrective efforts.
NOA emphasized that JAMB’s example should serve as a benchmark for other public institutions. “When agencies own their mistakes and act swiftly to correct them, they build public trust and strengthen democratic accountability,” Onilu added.
The agency also reiterated the importance of promoting ethical values and transparency across all sectors of society. “Integrity and accountability are not optional—they are the pillars of a fair and equitable nation,” the NOA boss affirmed.