Education

2025 UTME Glitches: Nigerians Reject JAMB’s Apology, Make New Strong Demand

By Gideon Ayeni

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2025

Gideon Ayeni

Nigerians are rejecting the apology of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, following the board’s recent admission of technical failures during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and calling for his immediate resignation.

The public backlash came after Oloyede broke down in tears during a press briefing on Wednesday, where he made an apology on behalf of JAMB for the widespread glitches and irregularities that marred the examination process.

A country should not be governed by emotions or personal sentiments. Given the circumstances, the Registrar- Professor Oloyede should be asked to step aside immediately to allow for a full scale independent and transparent investigation.

Additionally, the Registrar must publicly… https://t.co/gcvbrNgc4H

— Jacob (@SuleJacobs) May 14, 2025

However, netizens say emotions are not enough.

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Many Nigerians expressed outrage over the board’s decision to cancel results in 157 centres and force affected candidates to retake the exams, especially in Lagos and parts of the South East. They described the move as “heartless and inconsiderate,” arguing that students are being punished for JAMB’s own failure.

There are certain errors that are not pardonable. Not when you’ve had a whole year to prepare for this exam that could make or mar people’s destiny. Coming to cry and apologize on national TV doesn’t change the fact that you led an inept examination body prof. You need to resign
— Akinloluwa (@kinzodizo) May 14, 2025

If that foolish, incompetent, and crying Jamb Registrar won't resign, he should be fired. This is not an issue to be taken lightly. I hate Nigeria, man. And who were those idiots who clapped for the old foolish registrar for shedding crooked tears?
— omekagụ (@elendu_mompere) May 14, 2025

Critics also questioned the initial defense of the UTME results, where more than 78 percent of the 1.5 million candidates scored below 200. According to them, JAMB only admitted to errors after facing mounting pressure from the public and legal threats from affected families.

An "error" of this magnitude would have been covered up by JAMB if the students didn't speak out this time around

Who knows if the situation has been the same way for years. There needs to be consequences. The registrar resigning is a start. It will be a lesson for the future
— Samuel Ajayi 🇳🇬🗣️🌐 (@SamdGreat01) May 14, 2025

Some users pointed out that JAMB’s change in narrative further undermines trust in the system.

Calls are growing for JAMB to release the original results of affected candidates and provide psychological support to students who may have suffered mental stress due to the uncertainty.

First of all, the Registrar should resign. There should be consequences for actions like this. But before he resigns, he needs to fire all of the public relations staff. Let that be his last good act on the role.
— Ayọ̀dèjì Aládéjánà (@AladejanaDeji) May 14, 2025

The Registrar should resign or be sacked tomorrow.
— fivesecondsaway (@gboyega_adeoya) May 14, 2025

The man that was Crying should Resign First.
Then we will start talking about how Human error and how it happened
— Emeka (@Emeneks) May 14, 2025

As the controversy continues to trend online, many are urging the Federal Government to intervene and carry out an independent probe into the examination fiasco. For now, JAMB is yet to respond directly to the resignation calls despite the apology from the registrar.
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