A senior lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Christian Okeke, has demanded the resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over the widespread failures recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Dr Okeke, from the university’s Department of Political Science, described the registrar’s public apology as emotionally charged but ultimately inadequate. He insisted that only Oloyede’s resignation and the release of the actual results would restore justice to the affected candidates.
“How can the Registrar’s tears resurrect the dead and accentuate the depression into which candidates have been plunged? It was almost like a national mourning,” Okeke said. He labelled JAMB’s plan to have candidates retake the exam in certain centres as “insensitive to human emotions.”
He also accused the board of initially refusing to acknowledge its failings, adding that JAMB only admitted its errors after sustained public pressure and the threat of legal action.
“The least that is acceptable from the board is to release the true results of the candidates, provide psychological support and ensure that those responsible for the horrible outing take true responsibility—which must start with the exit of the Registrar,” he stated.
JAMB had earlier this week admitted responsibility for the technical lapses that affected several examination centres nationwide. Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, Prof. Oloyede apologised to the public and announced that 379,997 candidates would retake the exam between May 16 and 18.
The affected candidates sat for the UTME in 65 centres in Lagos State and 92 centres within the Owerri Zone, which spans the five South-East states—Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu.
“I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment. Please, I apologise and take full responsibility—not just in words,” Oloyede said during the address, appearing visibly emotional.
He attributed the failure to internal negligence and assured that the board is taking steps to prevent a recurrence.
Despite the apology, public pressure continues to mount. Education stakeholders are calling for greater accountability and meaningful reforms within JAMB to prevent further disruption to the academic future of Nigerian students.
