The admission of errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has elicited strong reactions from prominent Nigerians, including Peter Obi, Oby Ezekwesili, Osita Chidoka, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the House of Representatives. The glitches, affecting 379,997 candidates across 157 exam centers, have sparked widespread criticism, legal action, and calls for systemic reforms, with concerns about the emotional, psychological, and financial toll on students and families.
Peter Obi: Preventing a National Crisis
Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, commended JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede for his rare accountability in admitting the errors during an emotional press conference on May 14, 2025. In a statement on X on May 15, Obi warned that such glitches must not escalate into a national crisis, citing severe emotional and psychological impacts, including reported deaths. “The integrity of examination processes is foundational to national progress,” he said, urging JAMB to adopt rigorous quality assurance frameworks, transparent communication, and prompt issue resolution to restore public trust. Obi emphasized that the cost of repeated failures is too high for Nigeria’s education system.
Oby Ezekwesili: A Fiasco Fueled by Arrogance
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili labeled the UTME errors a “classic fiasco,” quoting Stephen Hawking: “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” In X posts on May 15, she criticized JAMB’s initial dismissal of complaints, particularly by Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, who attributed the mass failure (78% scoring below 200) to stricter standards without verifying technical issues. Ezekwesili questioned the rushed resit schedule, noting candidates’ distress over insufficient notice, and urged JAMB to reconsider its approach for a thoughtful reset. She advocated for an independent technological investigation to ensure learning and accountability, a stance she reiterated from a 2023 JAMB issue.
Osita Chidoka: Commending Integrity Over Deflection
Former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka praised JAMB for not resorting to the typical “go to court” response seen in Nigerian institutions. In a statement on May 14, he lauded Oloyede’s admission of fault, stakeholder dialogue, and external review process, including physical re-marking of scripts and collaboration with experts like the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria. “JAMB’s commitment to institutional integrity is commendable,” Chidoka said, extending solidarity to the 379,997 affected candidates scheduled to retake the exam from May 16 to May 19, 2025. He emphasized the need for evidence-based accountability, noting The Athena Centre’s Freedom of Information request to analyze a decade of JAMB data.
ERC: Postpone Resit Until After SSCE
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), through Deputy National Coordinator Comrade Ogunjinmi Isaac, called for postponing the UTME resit until after the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) concludes in June 2025. Isaac argued that the concurrent timing burdens candidates, as SSCE involves one subject daily, while UTME requires preparing for four subjects simultaneously. “It’s unjust to penalize students for JAMB’s errors,” he said, highlighting the added stress and logistical challenges, especially for those traveling long distances. The ERC’s demand reflects concerns about fairness and candidate welfare.
NANS: Oloyede Must Resign Over Student’s Death
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Vice President Comrade Tenyo Dighopho, attributed the suicide of Miss Timilehin Faith Opesusi in Ikorodu, Lagos, to the trauma of scoring 190 in the UTME. In a May 15 statement, NANS demanded Oloyede’s resignation, calling the errors a “national disgrace” and a “damning indictment of JAMB’s incompetence.” They urged JAMB to compensate Timilehin’s family and provide psychological and legal support to affected students. NANS also insisted on transparency in the resit process to prevent further failures, reflecting widespread student frustration.
Legal Action: N10 Billion Lawsuit Against JAMB
Lagos-based lawyer Evans Ufeli filed a N10 billion lawsuit against JAMB and Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa at the Federal High Court in Lagos, representing affected candidates and families. The suit, reported on May 15, alleges systemic irregularities and technical failures, including incomplete questions and system glitches, violating candidates’ rights under Nigeria’s Constitution, the African Charter on Human Rights, and the Child Rights Act. Ufeli seeks a declaration of rights violations, N10 billion in damages for trauma and lost opportunities, and the nullification of the 2025 UTME results. A hearing date is pending, amplifying calls for accountability.
House of Representatives: Probing the Glitches
On May 14, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate the UTME errors following a motion by Rep. Adewale Adebayo from Osun State. Adebayo highlighted the hardships candidates faced, such as traveling long distances only to encounter technical failures, with power outages and incomplete question displays reported in centers like Abuja. Rep. Sada Soli commended Oloyede’s admission but noted that the investigative committee, to be chaired by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, would determine if praise is warranted. The unanimous adoption of the motion signals parliamentary intent to address systemic issues in JAMB’s processes.
Public Sentiment: Candidates and Parents Voice Concerns
Candidates and parents expressed significant anxiety as the resit began on May 16, 2025. John Michael Odusanya, a candidate from Ijanikin, described the “hellish” commute to Ikorodu, lamenting the physical and emotional toll of repeating the ordeal. Parent Esther questioned JAMB’s claim of a “free” resit, noting high transport costs and doubts about improved conditions. Social media, particularly X, amplified these concerns, with hashtags like #ThisIsNotMyResult and posts from users like @quwam001 celebrating public advocacy but highlighting logistical challenges. Candidates like Favour Eke, who faced missing questions, and others reporting login issues, underscored the depth of the technical failures.
Differing Perspectives: JAMB’s Defense and Critics
JAMB’s Fabian Benjamin defended the initial results as reflective of candidates’ true abilities, citing a clampdown on exam malpractice. However, the board’s May 13 statement acknowledged an “unusual volume of complaints” from states like Lagos and the South East, prompting a review involving experts from the Educational Assessment and Research Network in Africa and vice-chancellors. While Dr. Solomon Udah of the Education Rights Initiative praised JAMB’s technological innovations, he blamed parents and candidates for inadequate preparation, a view contested by activists like Rinu Oduala, who called the errors “educational sabotage.”
Context and Broader Implications
The 2025 UTME, conducted from April 19 to April 29, saw 1,955,069 candidates, with only 420,415 (22%) scoring above 200 and 12,414 (0.63%) above 300. The mass failure, with 78% below the university admission threshold, sparked protests and viral campaigns like #ThisIsNotMyResult. JAMB’s admission of errors in 157 of 887 centers, affecting 379,997 candidates, has reignited debates about Nigeria’s education system, exacerbated by underinvestment and infrastructure deficits. Peter Obi’s earlier critiques of the UTME’s early scheduling and poor results underscored systemic neglect, a sentiment echoed by Ezekwesili and Chidoka. The planned transition to computer-based WASSCE by 2026 raises further concerns about readiness, given students’ limited computer literacy.
Conclusion
The reactions from Obi, Ezekwesili, Chidoka, ERC, NANS, and the House of Representatives highlight a consensus on the need for accountability and reform in JAMB’s operations. While Oloyede’s transparency earned praise, the scale of the errors, tragic outcomes like Timilehin’s death, and logistical resit challenges demand urgent action. The ongoing lawsuit and parliamentary probe signal a critical juncture for Nigeria’s education sector, with stakeholders urging comprehensive quality assurance, equitable access, and robust infrastructure to prevent future crises. As the resit proceeds, public vigilance and institutional reforms remain pivotal to restoring confidence in JAMB and safeguarding students’ futures.
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