Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar and chief executive, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
…Oloyede reaffirms commitment amid crisis
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will conduct a nationwide mop-up examination for candidates who were unable to sit for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to various disruptions.
Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar and Chief Executive, JAMB, made the announcement on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja with Chief External Examiners, state technical advisers, and other key stakeholders in the education sector.
According to Oloyede, the mop-up exercise is intended to accommodate the estimated 5 to 6 percent of candidates who missed the UTME, whether due to technical challenges, logistical issues, or other personal circumstances.
“We are taking an immediate decision that all those who missed the examination for whatever reason, the 5 or 6 percent will be considered for a mop-up. This is not unusual; we have always had an annual mop-up for such cases,” Oloyede said.
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The decision comes in response to growing concern over the fate of candidates affected by technical glitches in some centres, particularly in the South-East and Lagos State.
The JAMB boss acknowledged the strain the crisis placed on the system and revealed he briefly considered stepping down over the incident.
“When this happened, my first reaction was to resign. But I was advised that it would look like abandonment. I stayed because I realised the students need support now more than ever,” Oloyede disclosed.
He criticised those questioning the speed of JAMB’s rescheduling efforts, explaining the tight national academic calendar and the potential impact on university admissions and other examinations such as WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and military academies.
“People asking why the rescheduling was hasty don’t understand the reality on the ground. Once the UTME is done, other major exams follow immediately. If we delay, we risk excluding these candidates from critical opportunities like NDA and Police Academy admissions,” he explained.
Oloyede stressed that JAMB’s decision is driven by fairness and responsibility, and not by pressure or regional bias. He expressed deep regret over the emotional toll the situation has taken, especially following the report of a candidate who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the exam.
Read also: JAMB Glitches: South-East Lawmakers demand Oloyede’s resignation
“One suicide is one too many. My emotional reaction wasn’t about shifting blame. It was empathy. And we must not allow anyone to exploit this situation for political or personal gain,” he said.
During the meeting, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the deceased candidate.
Vincent Tenebe, Chairman of the Chief External Examiners group, commended Oloyede’s leadership during what he described as a difficult period.
“He showed leadership by taking responsibility even when the issues were beyond his control. This kind of integrity is what Nigeria needs,” Tenebe stated.
JAMB has not yet announced a specific date for the mop-up exam but has assured stakeholders that affected candidates will be notified in due course.
