BREAKING: JAMB Registrar Breaks Down in Tears, Apologises for UTME Errors Amid Growing Crisis of Trust and Alleged Corruption
In an emotional and unprecedented moment on Wednesday, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, broke into tears during a press briefing in Abuja as he addressed the uproar surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). His tearful apology followed increasing public outrage over the examination body’s multiple errors, widespread technical failures, and growing accusations of mismanagement and systemic corruption.
“I sincerely apologise for the trauma caused the candidates and their families,” Oloyede said, visibly distraught, pausing several times as he tried to regain composure. “We acknowledge there were mistakes more than one and we take full responsibility.”
While the Registrar’s emotional display may have moved some, many Nigerians, particularly affected students and parents, view it as too little, too late. For thousands of candidates whose academic dreams and mental well-being have been impacted by the chaos of the 2025 UTME, the apology is just a surface-level gesture, masking the deeper rot within Nigeria’s educational system.
A System in Disarray
The 2025 UTME has been marred by unprecedented levels of confusion. From biometric failures and missing results to sudden cancellations of already-completed exams, the problems ran deeper than “technical glitches.” According to multiple reports, more than 370,000 candidates most from Lagos and the South-East were affected, leading to an emergency rescheduling by JAMB.
But beyond the immediate exam disruptions lies a deeper crisis of credibility. The entire UTME process, which is supposed to serve as a standardized gateway to higher education in Nigeria, has increasingly come under scrutiny in recent years for its opaque systems, questionable results processing, and alleged manipulation.
Students across the country took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, sharing their heartbreak and anger. Hashtags like #FixJAMBNow, #UTMEFailure2025, and #SackOloyede quickly began trending nationwide. Candidates described how their results inexplicably disappeared or were drastically altered, some reporting scores that made no sense based on their performance.
Where Does the Blame Lie?
Although JAMB has publicly acknowledged “one or two errors,” many critics argue that the problems are far more widespread and symptomatic of deeper institutional failure. The body, which has enjoyed relative credibility under Prof. Oloyede’s leadership since his appointment in 2016, is now under fire for what many believe is an entrenched culture of negligence and mismanagement.
Education experts have also raised questions about the true extent of the errors. “This is not just an unfortunate mistake. It’s a systemic collapse,” says Dr. Tolu Adebayo, a lecturer at the University of Lagos. “How does a national examination body make such widespread errors in 2025, when we’re boasting about digital transformation? Someone needs to be held accountable.”
Others are pointing to a breakdown in internal oversight and possibly corrupt practices within JAMB and its subcontracted technical partners. According to a source within the Ministry of Education who asked not to be named, “There are serious issues with how contracts for UTME infrastructure are awarded. There are layers of vested interests benefiting from inefficiencies.”
Students Pay the Price
The real victims of this collapse, however, are the students. For many of them, UTME is more than an exam it is a lifeline. In a country where access to higher education is already limited, UTME scores determine who gets a shot at the future and who is left behind.
Take the story of 17-year-old Chioma from Anambra, who scored 302 in her mock exams but was shocked to find her UTME result reflecting a dismal 98. “It’s not possible. I prepared so hard. My mock was excellent. How did I get 98?” she asked in a tearful video that has since gone viral online.
Another candidate from Lagos, Musa Bello, said his exam center experienced a full system shutdown for over 45 minutes, yet he was never rescheduled. “They told us to just continue when the computers came back on. No extra time. Nothing.”
For these young Nigerians, the government’s apology rings hollow. Mental health experts have also raised concerns about the psychological impact on students who were hopeful and now feel cheated by the very system that should empower them.
Corruption in the Shadows?
It is difficult to ignore the growing chorus of voices suggesting that corruption might be playing a role in the dysfunction. Allegations of favoritism, underhand dealings with technical partners, and “special access” to results manipulation have long haunted JAMB.
A 2023 investigative report by an education watchdog group revealed how exam scripts and scores could be altered in exchange for bribes in some centers. While JAMB publicly denied these findings, the 2025 crisis has revived those accusations.
“There’s too much secrecy in how JAMB operates,” said Ayo Sanni, a parent and former education consultant. “We need independent audits, not just press briefings. The registrar crying doesn’t fix the trust deficit.”
Where Is the Ministry of Education?
The silence or delayed response from the Federal Ministry of Education is equally troubling. While JAMB is a parastatal, it operates under the oversight of the Ministry. As of the time of this report, the Minister of Education has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the failures or proposing any form of inquiry or reform.
“This is not just about JAMB. It’s about a larger institutional failure,” says political analyst and social commentator, Remi Lawal. “We have a ministry that has failed to monitor, evaluate, and reform a key agency under its watch.”
Many are calling for a full probe into JAMB’s operations, including an independent review panel to audit the 2025 UTME process, investigate allegations of corruption, and recommend systemic reforms.
Calls for Resignation and Reform
Civil society groups, parents’ forums, and student unions have begun mobilizing for a nationwide protest, demanding not just an apology, but actual consequences and reforms.
“We demand Prof. Oloyede’s resignation,” said the spokesperson for the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). “You cannot fail an entire generation and think tears will fix it.”
Petitions are circulating, demanding accountability from the Registrar and the top echelon of JAMB leadership. Some lawmakers have also hinted at possible hearings, though public confidence in political intervention remains low due to its own track record of failure and corruption.
What’s Next?
As Nigeria grapples with another scandal in its education sector, the real question remains: How long can a nation keep failing its young people before they stop believing?
While Prof. Oloyede’s tears may have been genuine, they cannot wash away years of deep-seated issues. Only bold reforms, transparency, and a renewed commitment to student welfare can begin to restore faith in Nigeria’s broken educational system.
Until then, the 2025 UTME will be remembered not for academic brilliance or excellence, but as a painful reminder of how systemic failure, corruption, and negligence can crush the hopes of an entire generation.
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