Kabiru Haruna
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has expressed profound satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Speaking during an inspection of some JAMB centres, Dr. Alausa praised the high level of coordination, transparency, and integrity demonstrated by the Board, describing the examination process as meeting international standards and being almost foolproof against malpractice.
Jamb 2025 : Kano Govt Suspends April Sanitation Exercise
The Minister reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to human capital development, highlighting critical areas such as education, health, and social protection. He emphasized that under the current administration, the rule of law is respected, allowing institutions like JAMB to operate independently and efficiently.
Dr. Alausa also warned candidates against engaging in cheating, urging them to rely on hard work to achieve success.
In a major policy announcement, the Minister directed that by November 2025, both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) should commence conducting their objective tests via Computer-Based Testing (CBT).
Furthermore, by May/June 2026, both the objective and essay components of WAEC and NECO examinations are expected to be fully transitioned to CBT, in a bid to further curb examination malpractice.
JAMB Reveals New Date, Issues Exam Slip Printing Guidelines
Addressing the need for expansion, Dr. Alausa pointed out that if JAMB could successfully conduct CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates nationwide, WAEC and NECO, which handle slightly fewer numbers, should also be able to replicate the same feat without difficulty.
He disclosed that a committee headed by a Professor has been set up to review and recommend strategies to maintain and improve examination quality across all levels.
On his part, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede Olanrewaju, gave a detailed account of the technical and operational framework behind the seamless administration of the UTME.
Professor Oloyede revealed that JAMB processed applications from over 2,040,538 candidates seeking admission into 1,452 tertiary institutions, supported by over 2,000 staff members and thousands of ad-hoc personnel managing CBT centres across the federation.
Professor Oloyede highlighted that JAMB’s robust and secure processes have set a new benchmark for examinations in Nigeria and affirmed the Board’s commitment to sustaining and improving these standards.