The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will on Thursday, May 16, convene a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to review the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, following widespread public dissatisfaction over an alarming rate of poor performance by candidates.
The meeting, which is set to take place in Abuja, will involve vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, secondary school principals, examiners, and technology experts. According to a notice obtained by ireport247news.com, the session will examine potential technical hitches, discrepancies in scoring, and public complaints regarding the conduct of the nationwide examination.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the review was prompted by “unusual complaints” that surfaced after the release of results on Friday, May 10. Over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2025 UTME, but more than 75% of them reportedly scored below the 200-mark threshold, sparking outrage among candidates and parents alike.
According to JAMB’s statistics, only 0.63% (12,414 candidates) scored 300 and above, while more than 983,000 candidates (over 50%) scored between 160 and 199. A further 24.97% (488,197 candidates) scored between 140 and 159, and a meagre 0.10% (2,031 candidates) scored below 100 marks.
Several candidates have taken to social media and legal channels to contest their results, alleging technical failures, incomplete questions, and system malfunctions during the computer-based test. A viral post by candidate @Pennyfabz on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the integrity of the results after her score dropped from 285 in 2024 to 156 in 2025.
A parent who spoke with our correspondent added, “These are brilliant students scoring below 200. Many experienced technical glitches. JAMB must come clean and review these results transparently.”
The upcoming review will feature representatives from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPRCN), and the Educational Assessment and Research Network (EARN). The goal, according to JAMB, is to identify flaws in the examination process and recommend strategies to avoid a recurrence.
“The board has approved your participation to appraise the conduct of the examination, identify challenges, and proffer recommendations,” JAMB stated in its invitation notice to stakeholders.
The board added that the review will come at no cost to JAMB, reinforcing its commitment to accountability and public trust.
Despite the backlash, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has defended the integrity of the 2025 UTME results, citing historical data to support the outcome. He noted that similar performance patterns have been recorded over the last 12 years. For instance, 76% of candidates scored below 200 in 2024, while 78% did so in 2022.
“This year’s outcome is not an outlier. The performance trend is consistent with what we have seen over the years,” Prof. Oloyede said.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also weighed in, describing the results as a reflection of the government’s efforts to curb examination malpractice. “The high failure rate shows that our anti-cheating systems are working. We’re committed to a merit-based admissions process,” he said.
Amid the storm, a shining light emerged in 15-year-old Afolabi Ayodeji, a student of Icons Comprehensive College in Akure, Ondo State, who scored a remarkable 370 out of 400. According to JAMB, this is the highest UTME score recorded since the adoption of computer-based testing in 2013.
Ayodeji’s breakdown showed 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, 94 in Chemistry, and 80 in English. “I didn’t set out to break records. I just gave it my all. I’m grateful to God, my parents, and my teachers,” he said.
JAMB has assured that candidates affected by verified technical issues during the exam will be given a second chance to retake the test, in line with existing policy. The board has also engaged independent IT professionals to investigate complaints and ensure that the review process is thorough.
As Thursday’s meeting draws closer, education stakeholders and families across the country await decisive action from JAMB that could reshape the outcome and future of tertiary admissions in Nigeria.