An official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shed light on the delay in releasing the results of the recently conducted rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Although the board initially planned to release the results on Wednesday—as stated in an earlier memo to the press—the release was postponed.
A source within JAMB revealed that the board invited Professor Boniface Nworgu, a renowned expert in educational measurement and evaluation, to review the results before they are made public. Professor Nworgu, who is also the current Commissioner for Labour and Employment in Imo State, is expected to arrive at JAMB’s headquarters on Thursday for the review.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that no specific date had been fixed yet for the release of the UTME results.
The anonymous source further explained that the results had already undergone an internal review, but the board deemed it necessary to seek an external, expert evaluation for transparency and credibility. Professor Nworgu, who has previously served as a consultant to JAMB and authored a book on assessment for the board, was described by JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, as one of the top psychometricians in Africa.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, Professor Nworgu’s assessment will be the final stage after an initial review by the board’s chief examiner.
Other Key Updates
The source also disclosed that during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday, JAMB resolved to release the results of underage candidates, even though such candidates will not be eligible for university admission due to age restrictions.
Additionally, the board is considering the prosecution of candidates who were caught engaging in examination malpractice during the UTME.
Background on the Rescheduled UTME
Speaking on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar Professor Oloyede stated that about 95% of candidates who were scheduled for the rescheduled UTME showed up. He also announced plans for a mop-up exam to accommodate those who missed both the original and the rescheduled UTME.
The UTME was rescheduled for 379,997 candidates whose results were affected by technical issues at 157 centres, mainly in Lagos State and the South-east region. The decision to reschedule came after JAMB fast-tracked the review of the 2025 UTME due to public concern over unexpected low scores from candidates with a history of good academic performance.
Credit: PREMIUM TIMES