By Tony Akowe and Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
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378,639 candidates score above 200
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Reps propose four-year admission cycle
An indigene of Ekiti State, Adebayo Eyimofe, is the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) best candidate.
Adebayo, who scored 362, the highest mark in this year’s edition of the UTME, wrote the examination at a CBT centre in Abuja.
The examinations, which were conducted in 750 CBT centres approved by the board, ended on May 13, 2022.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, announced Adebayo’s name among the top scorers in this year’s UTME while making a presentation at a 2022 JAMB policy meeting yesterday in Abuja.
The policy meeting, chaired by Education Minister Adamu Adamu, was a prelude to admission activities in tertiary institutions across the country.
During the meeting, the board adopted the cut-off marks of 140 for universities, 120 for polytechnics and 100 for colleges of education, as recommended by stakeholders.
The decision was arrived at after a heated session comprising officials from JAMB, the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts, among others.
But this year’s admission process may be delayed as a result of the ongoing strike by university-based unions.
The meeting resolved that December 31 will be the deadline for 2022 admissions into all public and private institutions comprising universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
JAMB said 378,639 out of the 1,761,338 candidates who wrote the 2022 UTME scored 200 and above.
In the presentation, Oloyede said Adebayo was closely followed by Ugwu Chikelu, an indigene of Enugu State, who scored 359.
Like Adebayo, Ugwu also wrote the UTME in Abuja.
Other high scorers include Igbalaye Ebunoluwa, 357; Emmanuel Oluwanifemi, 357; Ozumba Samuel, 357; Olumide-Attah Ayomide, 355; Lawal Olaoluwa, 355; Dokun Jubril, 354; Amaku Anthony, 354 and Aghulor Divine 353.
While giving the breakdown of the 2022 UTME, Oloyede said 378,639 scored 200 and above; 520,596 candidates scored 190 and above; 704,991 scored 180 and above; 934,103 scored 170 and above; 1,192,057 scored 160 and above.
The registrar said the board allowed candidates with awaiting results to register for the 2022 UTME.
“JAMB allowed awaiting results candidates to register and sit for the 2022 UTME. These candidates can’t be considered for admission on awaiting result status. They must present their O’ Level results on the board’s portal before the commencement of admissions,” he said.
Adamu advised tertiary institutions to adopt a more flexible posture in the admission processes, provided all actions comply with the guidelines.
“Just as in the previous admissions exercises, the admissions criteria still remain as approved and circulated.
“All institutions must, therefore, adhere strictly to them and all others prescribed by the regulatory bodies, such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).”
Also, the House of Representatives yesterday moved to amend the law establishing the UTME to ensure that results obtained in each examination is valid for a period of four years as against the current one-year period.
When passed and assented to by the President, the law, titled: A Bill for An Act to Amend the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Act and for Related Matters, sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, will ensure that candidates who passed the exam will be entitled to use such for admission within four years.
Leading the debate on the motion, Sadipe said the Bill would amend sections 5(1a) and 5(2) of the Principal Act “to add sub-section (i) and (ii) to insert the score validity of the examination, to state that the general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations and admissions to courses leading to the award of first degrees, Higher National Diploma (HND), and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) by universities and colleges of education in Nigeria shall be valid for four years”.