No fewer than 5,000 candidates who scored 300 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the past five academic sessions failed to gain admission into tertiary institutions, Saturday PUNCH has uncovered.
According to Punch, more than 8.5 million candidates sat for the UTME for five years. However, only about 2.7 million were admitted into higher institutions, leaving approximately 5.8 million stranded. The UTME remains the only recognized examination for individuals seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. While some schools conduct post-UTME screenings, candidates must present JAMB-verified results to be considered for admission.
JAMB cited several reasons for the exclusion of candidates, including those who scored above 300. These include incorrect O’level subject combinations, poor post-UTME scores, rejection of admission offers, duplicated applications, absence from screening, and catchment area mismatches.
In the 2019/2020 academic session, 1,792,719 candidates sat for the UTME, but only 612,557 were admitted, leaving 1,180,162 without placements. The following session saw 1,949,983 candidates take the exam, with only 551,553 admissions, resulting in 1,398,430 unadmitted. For the 2021/2022 session, 1.4 million sat for the exam, but only 312,666 gained admission, with 1,087,333 left out. In 2022/2023, of the 1.8 million candidates who sat the UTME, just 557,625 were admitted, leaving 1,242,375 behind. In 2023/2024, 1,635,881 candidates took the exam, and only 639,263 secured admission.
In response to these figures, education experts have called for reforms, including an extension of UTME result validity beyond one year. Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, Programme Director at Reform Education Nigeria, argued that extending result validity—similar to the WAEC model—would reduce the financial burden on candidates. Another educationist, Omotomiwa Daniels, noted that many students retake the exam annually due to lack of admission, urging JAMB to consider a two- to three-year result validity period.
Despite technical hitches in the 2025 UTME, the Federal Government has expressed confidence in the JAMB Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, assured Nigerians that the technical issues experienced were due to errors from a service provider and did not compromise the credibility of the CBT process. He praised JAMB for its swift forensic audit and resolution steps. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, also apologized to affected candidates and parents, confirming that affected students would be rescheduled for another test.
Meanwhile, the rescheduled exams held at several CBT centres in Lagos recorded average turnout. At Datforte International School in Ahmadiyya, 212 candidates attended the first session and 222 in the second, out of the expected 250 per session. New Ocean Comprehensive High School in Ayobo, as well as Vanilla CBT Centre and Enefem International School, saw similar turnout levels. Centre directors attributed the low numbers to late notification, with many students unaware of the exam until the morning it was held.
One centre director disclosed that some students came without slips but were allowed in after showing messages on their phones. He emphasized the need for empathy in handling such cases. Another noted that some candidates, including a young lady, arrived visibly unprepared, possibly affecting their performance. Some stakeholders suggested postponing the rescheduled exam until after WAEC, as several students were juggling both.
Several students and parents also decried the long distances they had to travel for the rescheduled exam. One student, Segun, said he received the notice in Abuja and had to travel overnight to Lagos, only to miss his session. A school official blamed late registrations for the long-distance postings, stating that early registrants are usually assigned closer centres.
Parents expressed concern over how the short notice would impact their children’s performance. Ejeke Patricia, a parent at Enefem International School, said her son had been writing WAEC exams and only got the resit notice a day prior. Another parent, Kuye Temidayo, who came from Ayetoro in Ogun State, lamented the rush, saying the exam had already begun before they could locate the centre. She also highlighted the stress of having to pay for chairs under the sun while waiting. Araba Stella, another parent from Ikorodu, confirmed that some students only got the message on the exam morning, creating anxiety and confusion.
In contrast, examinations went smoothly in Anambra and Imo States. In Awka, centres such as St. Patrick’s College ICT Centre, JAMB ICT Centre, and St John of God ICT Centre had adequate security and efficient biometric screening. Candidates who had issues were asked to reprint their slips and rescheduled. Uchenna Akachukwu, a parent, praised JAMB officials and security agents for their professionalism and discipline, advocating for a consistent and serene exam environment nationwide.
