The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a mop-up examination for candidates who missed the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), offering a second chance to over 5.6% of registered candidates.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the board would provide another opportunity for all absentees, regardless of why they missed the exam.
“This time, we’re introducing a new mop-up. Even those who were simply absent will have a chance to sit the exam,” Oloyede stated. “This isn’t unusual. In serious systems, when students miss exams, they’re given another opportunity—so long as the process isn’t abused.”
He reiterated that the UTME is a placement tool for limited university slots, not an intelligence test. “It’s meant to rank candidates, not judge their academic worth,” he said.
Oloyede also addressed public criticisms and allegations of bias in the exam process, dismissing conspiracy theories suggesting ethnic favoritism or incompetence.
“I take responsibility—not because of failure, but because that’s what leadership requires,” he said. “I didn’t know some people still interpret national matters through an ethnic lens. We must do better.”
He commended both students and JAMB staff for their determination and cooperation despite challenges such as limited space and technical hitches.
“We had constraints, but we acted swiftly to avoid denying candidates their chance,” he said.
JAMB said it will announce the date for the mop-up examination soon and reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity in the admissions process.
