The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, on Wednesday broke down in tears as he publicly apologised for the errors recorded during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
During a press conference held at the JAMB headquarters in Abuja, the visibly emotional Oloyede said, “I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates,” while pausing briefly to wipe tears from his eyes.
The registrar admitted that “one or two errors” occurred during the conduct of the examination, though he did not provide full details of the nature or extent of the errors. His emotional response marked a rare moment of public vulnerability from the head of Nigeria’s major examination body.
While JAMB has yet to release an official report on the scope of the issues encountered, some candidates and parents had earlier taken to social media to complain about inconsistencies in exam scheduling, technical faults at CBT centres, and alleged scoring anomalies.
Oloyede’s apology comes amid growing calls for accountability and improved transparency in the administration of national examinations. Though he did not resign or indicate any plans to step down, the registrar pledged that steps would be taken to address the issues and prevent future recurrence.
JAMB has been under increased public scrutiny in recent years, with stakeholders urging reforms to restore confidence in the UTME process, which is critical for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Further statements from the examination board are expected in the coming days to clarify the nature of the reported errors and outline remedial measures.
