Abuja, Nigeria – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) resit for candidates affected by technical glitches. While the release brings relief to many, it has also shone a harsh light on pervasive examination irregularities, leading to withdrawn results and ongoing investigations.
According to a statement from JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, the resit examination saw 336,845 candidates scheduled, with 21,082 reported absent. The Board emphasized that despite recent challenges, performance analysis remains consistent with previous years, with about 29.3% scoring 200 and above, and a significant 70.7% scoring below 200 marks.
Key Resolutions and Waivers:
Following extensive deliberations with its Chief External Examiners (CEEs) nationwide, JAMB announced several key resolutions:
1.A sub-committee, chaired by Prof. Olufemi Peters, Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and CEE for the FCT, was constituted to verify the results.
2.Prof. Boniface Nworgu, a renowned psychometrics expert, was invited to analyze and endorse the results for release.
3.Withheld results of under-aged candidates who performed below the established standards have been released as a “healing process,” though these do not automatically qualify them for admission.
4.A “once and for all waiver” has been granted to candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other illicit solicitations for assistance. JAMB strongly advised candidates to refrain from joining such questionable groups in the future.
5.Absentee candidates from the resit examination, and those who missed the initial main UTME, will be offered an opportunity to participate in the upcoming annual mop-up examination.
Crackdown on Malpractice:
JAMB reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice, revealing alarming practices that led to the withdrawal of results and arrests across the country:
1.Blacklisting of implicated CBT centres: Several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres have been identified for serious registration and examination malpractices. These centres will be blacklisted, and complicit owners prosecuted. Individuals involved in registering candidates with modified pictures and biometrics will also face apprehension and prosecution.
2.Tutorial Centre Scrutiny: The Board expressed concern over the role of some tutorial centres in perpetuating examination malpractices, urging governments to regulate, license, and monitor them effectively to curb dishonesty.
3.Sophisticated Digital Fraud: Recent investigations, aided by security agencies, have uncovered advanced digitalized fraud methods. These include:
4.Hacking of CBT centre networks: Perpetrators, including some CBT centre/school proprietors, remotely controlled candidates’ computers to submit responses.
5.AI-enabled photo blending: Used to create fake identities for impersonators, many of whom are current undergraduates.
6.Combined fingerprints: Registration involving fingerprints from multiple individuals for a single candidate.
7.Extension of Local Area Networks (LAN) from centres to remote “strong rooms.”
8.Pairing of candidates with “professional mercenaries” who had registered for the UTME.
Over three thousand candidates nationwide have been identified as accomplices or beneficiaries of these fraudulent activities. JAMB stated that their results will be withdrawn as incontrovertible proofs are established, even if previously released. The Board also confirmed that some previously released results have been withdrawn, with affected candidates being notified via text messages, profiles, and emails.
Addressing Misinformation:
JAMB addressed misleading narratives, particularly regarding candidates who allegedly scored highly in cancelled sessions. The Board clarified that only a handful scored above 217 in affected sessions, with 99% scoring below 200, refuting claims of numerous high scorers.
The Board also cited the case of Mr. Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, a first-year Public Health student at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), who falsely claimed a 2025 UTME score of 326 on social media. Investigation revealed he doctored his 2024 UTME score of 203, and his actual 2025 score (before withdrawal) was 180. Mr. Olisa has since deactivated his social media account.
JAMB further clarified that the N50 shortcode charge for checking results (55019/66019) does not generate revenue for the Board. Instead, it subsidizes the service to protect candidates’ data and prevent cybercafé extortion.
Appreciation:
JAMB extended its gratitude to security agencies for their commendable efforts in apprehending culprits of examination malpractice. Appreciation was also extended to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for providing a window for the resit examination, and to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and National Examinations Council (for BECE) for rescheduling their examinations to accommodate the resit.
The Board concluded by assuring Nigerians of its continued dedication and sincere service.
