The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will release the results of 379,000 candidates who sat for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) between Friday and Monday on Wednesday, May 22, 2025.
This development follows national outcry over mass failure recorded in the original UTME, where over 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400 marks. In response, JAMB conducted investigations and admitted to technical and human errors, particularly in Lagos and the South-East states, which significantly affected candidates’ scores.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Monday, JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin confirmed the release date for the rescheduled exam results. JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had earlier disclosed that a total of 379,997 candidates were impacted — including 206,610 candidates across 65 centres in Lagos and 173,387 candidates in 92 centres across the South-East.
Oloyede described the disruptions as sabotage and took full responsibility for the situation during a tearful public address, where he announced a resit for the affected candidates. He assured that text notifications were sent to candidates starting from Thursday before the rescheduled test.
A breakdown of the original UTME results shows that out of 1,955,069 processed results:
- Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above
- 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319
- In total, only 12,414 (0.63%) scored 300 and above
- 73,441 (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299
- 334,560 (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249
- A majority, 983,187 (50.29%), scored between 160 and 199
- 488,197 (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159
- 57,419 (2.94%) between 120 and 139
- 3,820 (0.20%) between 100 and 119
- 2,031 (0.10%) scored below 100
This alarming performance has sparked widespread debate over the credibility and fairness of the 2025 UTME.
Meanwhile, the South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the immediate resignation of Prof. Oloyede, describing the situation as a “catastrophic institutional failure.” In a statement signed by Hon. Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi), the lawmakers criticised poor communication, the short notice for the rescheduled exams, and clashes with ongoing WAEC examinations, which they said caused undue stress and confusion for students.
They added, “All five South-Eastern states we represent were directly affected by these so-called ‘score distortions’… This crisis has severely shaken public trust and the confidence of students and their families nationwide.”
JAMB, however, maintains that it is taking steps to restore credibility and uphold the integrity of its examination process.