In a startling revelation that underscores the evolving nature of examination malpractice in Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a case where a blind candidate recruited another visually impaired undergraduate to impersonate him during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
This development was disclosed by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, May 9. He stated that the case, which involved two blind candidates, was detected during the conduct of the specially organized UTME session for candidates with visual impairments and other disabilities under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG).
Oloyede, while praising JEOG’s commitment to inclusivity, expressed dismay at the impersonation, calling it a betrayal of the very principles the board strives to uphold. “While we remain committed to supporting all candidates regardless of their challenges, it is deeply unfortunate that one of our own abused this opportunity by hiring another blind candidate to sit the UTME in his place,” he said.
JAMB, through the JEOG led by renowned academic Prof. Peter Okebukola, has consistently championed the cause of inclusive education. For the 2025 UTME cycle, 501 visually impaired and challenged candidates were examined at 11 specialized centres nationwide. The board also refunded registration fees and covered the transportation, lodging, and feeding of these candidates—a gesture aimed at eliminating financial and logistical barriers to education.
Despite these commendable efforts, the impersonation incident highlights how deeply rooted the challenge of exam malpractice is, even among marginalized communities.
The incident adds to concerns about systemic malpractice in Nigeria’s education system. The 2025 UTME recorded over 1.9 million candidates, with JAMB withholding results of 39,834 candidates due to suspected infractions. Of these, impersonation, exam malpractice, and biometric mismatches were prominent reasons.
The impersonation by a visually impaired undergraduate on behalf of another blind candidate is a rare but significant breach, indicating that fraudsters are becoming more creative, even within groups receiving exceptional support.
Education stakeholders have reacted strongly to the development. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while commenting on the broader performance of candidates, which showed that over 1.5 million scored below the average benchmark of 200, emphasized that the government would intensify efforts to clamp down on malpractice at all levels. “This incident must serve as a wake-up call. We must not only tighten our monitoring systems but also foster a culture of integrity,” he said.
JAMB has vowed to thoroughly investigate the impersonation and ensure appropriate sanctions are applied. This may include disqualifying the candidates involved and blacklisting them from future examinations.
The board also hinted at plans to further digitize and strengthen its verification processes, especially within the special needs category, to ensure that all candidates—abled or disabled—are treated fairly and are held to the same standards of accountability.
While the UTME continues to be a critical gateway to higher education in Nigeria, this incident underscores the need for all stakeholders—students, families, educators, and policymakers—to recommit to ethical practices. The integrity of national examinations must be preserved at all costs to ensure that the future of the country is built on competence and merit, not deceit.