By Elizabeth Godwin
On Friday, May 9, 2025, Prof. Ishak Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria, conducted a significant press briefing in Abuja. This event, occurring just before the weekend of May 10-11, 2025, served as a critical engagement with the press to announce and discuss the outcomes of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Given the timing and the detailed coverage in media reports, it appears to be the primary press interaction over the specified weekend, focusing on examination results, integrity, and related issues.
Ishak Oloyede, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s educational sector, has been the JAMB Registrar, overseeing the UTME, which is essential for university admissions. His role involves ensuring the examination’s fairness and addressing public concerns, making press briefings a vital part of his responsibilities.
The press briefing on May 9, 2025, was widely reported by media outlets. During this event, Oloyede provided a comprehensive overview of the UTME results, addressing both the successes and challenges encountered.
Oloyede shared detailed statistics, as summarized in the following table:
Category Number
Total candidates registered 2,030,862
Candidates successfully verified 1,957,000
Candidates absent 71,705
Fingerprints rejected as invalid 2,157
Underage candidates registered 41,027
Underage candidates who sat 40,260
Results released 1,911,551
Results withheld 39,834
Results under scrutiny/processing 1,426
Candidates scoring 300 and above 12,414 (0.63%)
– Scoring ≥ 320 4,756
– Scoring 300-319 7,658
Candidates scoring 160-199 50.29%
Candidates scoring 140-159 24.97%
Underage candidates with threshold scores 467 (1.16%)
This table highlights the scale of the examination and the distribution of results, with a focus on performance ranges and specific categories like underage candidates.
A significant portion of the briefing was dedicated to examination malpractices, reflecting JAMB’s commitment to integrity. Oloyede reported that 96 candidates had their results withheld due to malpractices, a reduction from 123 the previous year, indicating progress in curbing such issues. Additionally, 244 candidates were caught engaging in “WhatsApp runs,” where they subscribed to rogue groups promising leaked questions; their results were withheld to set a deterrent example.
Further, 3,656 candidates were found to have extraneous fingerprints, suggesting potential registration fraud, and their results were also withheld. Oloyede identified several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers involved, including Tigh Technologies Limited, Sascon International School in Maitama, Abuja, Wudil Computer Information Technology in Wudil, Kano State, and Penta M&Amp; Centre 2 in Tambuwal LGA, Sokoto State. These centers are set to face penalties for their involvement in facilitating malpractices.
He also noted that 80 suspects are currently being interrogated by the police, with the majority expected to face prosecution, underscoring JAMB’s stringent measures against exam fraud.
Oloyede addressed the issue of underage candidates, noting that 41,027 registered, with 40,260 sitting for the exam. Of these, 467 met the threshold scores, but one was disqualified due to exam malpractice, highlighting the board’s strict enforcement policies.
The performance breakdown revealed that only 0.63% of candidates scored 300 and above, with 4,756 scoring 320 or higher and 7,658 scoring between 300 and 319. A significant 50.29% scored between 160 and 199, and 24.97% scored between 140 and 159, providing a clear picture of the examination’s outcome distribution.
To ensure accessibility, Oloyede instructed candidates to check their results by texting “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used for registration. He also mentioned that JAMB is reviewing cases of candidates with invalid fingerprints and underage candidates, with their results isolated for further tests, ensuring transparency and fairness.
The briefing was extensively covered, with reports on the announcement and statistics, as well as additional details on malpractices and center involvement. This coverage ensured that the public was well-informed about the UTME outcomes and JAMB’s efforts to maintain examination integrity.
The press briefing was a pivotal engagement with the media, providing detailed insights into the 2025 UTME results, addressing examination malpractices, and outlining JAMB’s ongoing efforts to ensure fairness. This event, occurring just before the weekend, was widely reported and likely addressed public and stakeholder concerns, reinforcing JAMB’s role in Nigeria’s educational landscape.
