UTME Overhyped, JAMB Not an Examination Body Says JAMB Registrar

A fresh wave of public enlightenment emerged on Thursday as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reaffirmed that JAMB is not an examination body but an educational assessment and admission agency created to streamline entry into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. His remarks came during the maiden Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, where seven undergraduates shared N35 million in prizes.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Oloyede used the platform to address long‑standing misconceptions about JAMB’s role, noting that many Nigerians mistakenly equate the board with traditional examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO. He stressed that while JAMB conducts examinations, its core mandate is admission facilitation — a function that distinguishes it from bodies whose primary identity is examination administration.

“We conduct exams, but we are not an examination company,” he said. “You cannot say the University of Lagos is an examination body because it conducts examinations. The same way, JAMB conducts exams, but JAMB is not an examination body.” ValidViewNetwork reports that Oloyede further explained that examination is merely one of JAMB’s operational tools, not its defining purpose.

He emphasised that undue hype around the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination has contributed to widespread misunderstanding. According to him, UTME scores are only one component of a multi‑stage admission process that includes institutional requirements, subject combinations, and other qualifications. Celebrating high UTME scores without considering eligibility, he warned, can be misleading.

“Many people have high scores but do not have the required subject combinations or qualifications for admission,” he said, noting that JAMB’s role is to serve as a clearing house that ensures fairness, merit, and proper placement of candidates across tertiary institutions.

Oloyede reiterated that JAMB will continue to emphasise its identity as an admission‑focused agency rather than an examination body, adding that improved public understanding of its mandate is essential to reducing misconceptions and easing pressure on candidates and parents.

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And as Nigeria continues to refine its tertiary education admission processes, his message lands at a critical moment: the nation must shift from score‑centric narratives to a more holistic appreciation of merit, eligibility, and institutional standards — a shift that could ultimately strengthen transparency and restore confidence in the admission system.