The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the rescheduled 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a staggering underperformance and widespread absenteeism.
According to a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, only 1% of candidates scored above 200 in the resit examination, while 21,082 candidates, representing 93% of those rescheduled, were absent.
The rescheduled exam was organized for 336,845 candidates affected by technical issues at various centres during the main UTME. The board did not provide reasons for the high absentee rate but announced that absentees would be granted another opportunity through the forthcoming mop-up examination.
Consistently Low Performance Trends
JAMB noted that the dismal performance aligns with historical patterns, with performance in similar years ranging between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016. The board also highlighted that certain systemic issues and unethical practices at some CBT centres may have contributed to examination irregularities.
Widespread Misconduct and Social Media Deceit
The board condemned the rise in fraudulent behaviors, including the manipulation of scores and participation in illicit online groups. A notable case involved Mr. Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, a public health student at Adekunle Ajasin University, who falsely claimed to have scored 326 in the 2025 UTME. JAMB revealed that he actually scored 180 before his result was withdrawn due to examination irregularities. The candidate has since deactivated his social media account.
No High Scores in Cancelled Sessions
Addressing public concerns, JAMB confirmed that there were no high scorers in the cancelled UTME sessions from Lagos and the five southeastern states affected by technical glitches. Only a few candidates scored up to 217, with 99% scoring below 200 marks, invalidating claims that some top scorers were unfairly stripped of their results.
Resolutions and Next Steps
Following a nationwide review meeting with Chief External Examiners, JAMB set up a sub-committee led by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Olufemi Peters, to vet the results. The board also involved a psychometrics expert, Prof. Boniface Nworgu, to validate the outcome.
Additionally, results of under-aged candidates and those involved in misconduct were also reviewed. While some results have been released under strict waivers, JAMB emphasized that this should not be seen as an endorsement of inappropriate behavior.
“All results are now released except for candidates involved in examination infractions and those scheduled for the mop-up exams,” the board stated.
