JAMB EMBRACES TRANSPARENCY AS REVIEW OF 2025 UTME BEGINS

The Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for transparency as the board begins the review of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The review followed widespread protest of low scores by candidates claiming past records of better performance in both the UTME and other examinations.

Mr Chidoka, a former minister of aviation, is one of the stakeholders invited by JAMB to be part of the review process. His organisation, the Athena Centre, recently conducted a survey that revealed the financial secrecy in Nigerian universities and how that is affecting their abilities to get global grants.

Shortly after the survey was published, the Ministry of Education mandated the universities to publish their annual financial statements. The centre has now partnered the ministry to monitor compliance.

Other selected stakeholders participating in the UTME review process include Commissioners for Education, Vice Chancellors, the Parents Teachers Association, the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, and Chief External Examiners.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Chidoka expressed satisfaction with the review process so far and called on affected candidates to remain calm and await formal communication from JAMB.

He explained that himself and other stakeholders observed the physical re-marking of randomly selected scripts of candidates.

The former minister commended the examination board’s transparency, rigour, and accountability.

He said the country will grow when public institutions are accountable, citizens are active, and organisations remain vigilant.

I am proud of the open and honest process they instituted to address the technical issues that affected results in Lagos and the South East. This is the hallmark of institutional integrity and responsibility,” he said.

“It showed a commitment to truth over convenience.”

Centre to review 10 years of results
Mr Chidoka also said the Athena Centre has also filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request through the Arthur Nwankwo Institute to review 10 years of past results for comparative analysis with the 2025 results.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES