The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that it will conduct mop-up examinations for candidates who were absent from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), okaynews.com reports.
According to JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, over 5.6 percent of candidates missed the exam, prompting the board to offer a fresh chance for those affected.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Professor Oloyede said, “This time, we are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence will get another opportunity.” He emphasized that this approach is a normal practice in reputable examination systems, adding, “It’s not extraordinary. In any serious system, when students miss an exam, they’re allowed to make up—provided there’s no abuse.”
Oloyede also clarified the nature of the UTME, stating, “Its purpose is to rank candidates for limited admission slots, not to test how smart someone is.” This was in response to misconceptions about the exam’s role in evaluating intelligence.
Addressing controversies and accusations of ethnic bias and administrative incompetence, the registrar dismissed such claims and took full responsibility for the process. “I take responsibility, not because I failed, but because that’s leadership. I didn’t even realise people viewed issues around me through ethnic lenses. We must rise above such profiling,” he said.
He praised the perseverance of candidates and staff despite logistical hurdles, noting, “We had limited space. We knew if we wasted more time grieving the challenges, students would lose their opportunity.” The mop-up examination will be scheduled soon, with JAMB reaffirming its dedication to transparency and fairness in the admissions process.
