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  • JAMB: 29 less competitive courses in Nigeria in 2025 and their cut-off marks

    JAMB: 29 less competitive courses in Nigeria in 2025 and their cut-off marks

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Tuesday approved 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025 academic session.

    The decision was reached during the board’s annual policy meeting on admissions, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

    According to JAMB, the minimum benchmark for colleges of nursing was set at 140, while colleges of education and colleges of agriculture will admit candidates with scores from 100 and above.

    The policy meeting, which convenes stakeholders from tertiary institutions nationwide, reviews the previous admission cycle and agrees on guidelines for the new one. Institutions are also permitted to propose higher cut-off marks for specific courses or programmes, provided they do not go below the approved minimum.

    JAMB emphasised that there is no uniform Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) cut-off mark applicable to all institutions, noting that universities, polytechnics, and colleges retain the autonomy to set higher standards in line with their requirements.

    Here’s a categorised list of courses you can study within this score range:

    A. Science Courses (140–180 JAMB Score)

    1. Fisheries

    Focuses on the management and production of fish and aquatic resources for food and commercial purposes.

    2. Agricultural Science

    Covers crop and animal farming techniques, soil science, and food production systems.

    3. Home Science and Nutrition

    Studies human nutrition, food management, and the science of healthy living and family care.

    4. Animal Science

    Deals with the biology, breeding, and care of livestock and domesticated animals.

    5. Botany

    Involves the scientific study of plants, including their structure, growth, and uses.

    6. Anatomy

    Focuses on the structure of the human body—used as a foundation in health and medical sciences.

    7. Marine Biology

    Studies marine life, ocean ecosystems, and the biology of organisms in saltwater environments.

    8. Zoology

    Explores animal life, including classification, evolution, behaviour, and habitats.

    9. Science Laboratory Technology

    Trains students in lab operations, diagnostics, and scientific experiments across various fields.

    Read Also: JAMB releases mop-up exam results

    B. Art Courses (140–180 JAMB Score)

    1. Arabic Studies

    Focuses on Arabic language, literature, and Islamic culture and civilisation.

    2. Archaeology

    Involves the study of past human life through material remains like artefacts and structures.

    3. Christian Religious Studies

    Explores Christian beliefs, teachings, ethics, and history of the Church.

    4. Fine Arts

    Encompasses drawing, painting, sculpture, and visual expression through art.

    5. Drama/Performing Arts

    Focuses on acting, stage performance, and theatrical production.

    7. Theatre Arts

    A broader study of drama, including script writing, directing, and stage management.

    8. English Language

    Involves a deep study of English grammar, literature, phonetics, and communication skills.

    9. French

    Teaches French language proficiency, literature, and Francophone culture.

    10. History and International Studies

    Combines historical events with analysis of global political relations and diplomacy.

    11. Music

    Focuses on musical theory, instruments, composition, and performance techniques.

    C. Commercial Courses (140–180 JAMB Score)

    1. Business Administration

    Teaches management, entrepreneurship, finance, and business operations.

    2. Public Administration

    Focuses on government operations, public policy, and administrative leadership.

    3. Marketing

    Covers promotion, advertising, consumer behaviour, and product distribution.

    4. Insurance

    Involves risk management, policies, and the financial protection industry.

    5. Taxation

    Focuses on tax systems, laws, administration, and financial regulations.

    6. Criminology and Security Studies

    Studies criminal behaviour, law enforcement, and security strategies.

    7. Library and Information Science

    Teaches the organisation, management, and use of information resources and libraries.

    8. Hospitality and Tourism

    Covers hotel management, travel services, and customer relations in the tourism industry.

    9. Political Science

    Studies political systems, government structures, public policy, and global politics.

    10. Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

    This course focuses on managing conflicts, peacebuilding, and negotiation in societies

  • JUST IN: Universities adopt 150 as cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission

    JUST IN: Universities adopt 150 as cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission

    Vice Chancellors of Universities in the country have adopted 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for 2025/2026 admission.

    The decision was reached in a voice vote supervised by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Tuesday at the ongoing policy meeting on admission in Abuja.

    Read Also: FG urges universities to drive climate research, support net zero target by 2060

    At the meeting, the minimum cut-off point for admission into polytechnics was pegged at 100, while the colleges of education and agriculture adopted 100 as the entry point.

    Colleges of nursing adopted 140 as the entry point for admission.

    Details shortly… 

  • JAMB releases mop-up exam results

    JAMB releases mop-up exam results

    • Board clears over 8,435 in fake admission letters’ probe

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of its mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held on Saturday, June 28.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB confirmed that the results of 11,161 candidates who sat for the mop-up exam have been released out of the 96,838 who were scheduled to participate.

    “Candidates who are not able to access their results have been found not to have fully complied with the instruction to send ‘UTMERESULT’ (as one word text) to 55019/66019 from the same phone number (SIM) with which they registered for the UTME,” the statement said.

    JAMB also provided an update on the ongoing investigation into a fake admission letter syndicate, whose masterminds were arrested in 2024.

    The statement said: “You will recall that a joint press conference between the PPRO of the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board was convened on April 13, 2024. It was the outcome of the complaint of JAMB that a syndicate had engaged in the fabrication of JAMB Admission Letters for interested candidates in exchange for a fee, following which a comprehensive investigation was launched.

    “With the assistance of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the police successfully apprehended the five ring-leaders behind the scam.

    “The five arrested ring-leaders confessed to producing the fake admission letters and are currently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, in the case between Inspector General of Police Vs Effa Leonard and four Others. Following the confession from the syndicate, a total of 17,417 candidates were flagged as beneficiaries.”

    The board announced that between 2024 and May 2025, it had cleared 6,903 of those flagged candidates after they rectified minor discrepancies.

    It added that the remaining 10,514 candidates were referred to designated police investigation offices.

    JAMB also said: “Among the 10,514 candidates, 5,669 were confirmed to have procured forged letters outright, while 4,832 candidates, whose admission were then undisclosed to JAMB and who were being processed for condonement by their confessing institutions under a (2017-2020) ministerial waiver, impatiently engaged the syndicate to side-step the process.

    Read Also: Mop-up UTME: JAMB directs candidates to print notification slips

    “Thirteen others were found to have been flagged due to one act of omission/commission or the other on the part of the candidates. Twelve of the 13 candidates registered in 2017 when CAPS was established.”

    JAMB named the institutions involved in the 13 cases, including Bayero University, Kano (BUK); Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri; Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA); Ekiti State University (EKSU); Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; Osun State Polytechnic, Ire; Ben Idahosa University, B enin City, Edo State; Obong University, Obong Ntak, Akwa Ibom State; and the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

    The board added: “In continuation of the screening process, the management of the board at its meeting on July 5, 2025 decided that the 13 candidates flagged through one act of commission/omission or the other on the candidates’ part, should be requested to rectify their specific anomalies and proceed to print their new letters of admission as they belong to the batch of 6,903 earlier condoned.

    “In addition, a total of 1,532 candidates, whose essential defence (though difficult to believe) was that they were not party to the commissioning of the syndicate, which helped facilitate their admission letters, are hereby warned and condoned because their institutions had eventually processed their condonement of initially undisclosed admission — a procedure the candidates initially attempted to side-step.”

    JAMB confirmed that 3,300 candidates remained under investigation, as their institutions have not processed their admissions through the legitimate channels.

    “The board’s screening processes continue and any candidate found to have employed or solicited assistance from examination and certificate fraudsters or deviated from laid down procedures for registration, examination or admission would continue to face the consequences which include prosecution under the Examination Malpractices Act which prescribes appropriate punishment even for the under-aged and their culpable mentors, guardians or parents,” JAMB added.

  • JUST IN: JAMB releases mop-up exam results

    JUST IN: JAMB releases mop-up exam results

    • …clears over 8,435 in fake admission letters probe

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of its mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

    In a statement on Sunday by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board confirmed that results for 11,161 candidates who sat for the mop-up exam have been released out of the 96,838 who were scheduled to participate.

    “Candidates who are not able to access their result have been found not to have fully complied with the instruction to send ‘UTMERESULT’ (as one word text) to 55019/66019 from the same phone number (SIM) with which they registered for the UTME,” the statement noted.

    Meanwhile, JAMB also provided an update on the ongoing investigation into a fake admission letter syndicate, whose masterminds were arrested in 2024.

    The statement said, “You will recall that a joint press conference between the PPRO of the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board was convened on 13th April 2024. It was the outcome of the complaint of JAMB that a syndicate had engaged in the fabrication of JAMB-Admission Letters for interested candidates in exchange for a fee, following which a comprehensive investigation was launched.

    “With the assistance of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the police successfully apprehended the 5 ring-leaders behind the scam.

    “The five arrested ring-leaders confessed to producing the fake admission letters and are currently being prosecuted at the FHC, Abuja in the case between Inspector General of Police Vs Effa Leonard and four (4) others. Following the confession from the syndicate, a total of 17,417 candidates were flagged as beneficiaries.”

    Read Also: Mop-up UTME: JAMB directs candidates to print notification slips

    The Board reported that between 2024 and May 2025, it had cleared 6,903 of those flagged candidates after they rectified minor discrepancies. 

    It added that the remaining 10,514 candidates were referred to designated police investigation offices.

    The board said, “Among the 10,514 candidates, 5,669 were confirmed to have outrightly procured forged letters while 4,832 candidates whose admission were then undisclosed to JAMB and who were being processed for condonement by their confessing institutions under a (2017-2020) ministerial waiver, impatiently engaged the syndicate to side-step the process.

    “13 others were found to have been flagged due to one act of omission/commission or the other on the part of the candidates. 12 of the 13 candidates registered in 2017 when CAPS was established.”

    JAMB revealed the institutions involved in these 13 cases include Bayero University Kano (BUK), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Olabisi Onabanjo University, Osun State Polytechnic Ire, Ben Idahosa University, Obong University, and the University of Ilorin.

    The board added, “In continuation of the screening process, the management of the Board at its meeting on the 5th July, 2025 decided that the 13 candidates flagged through one act of commission/omission or the other on the candidates’ part, should be requested to rectify their specific anomalies and proceed to print their new letters of admission as they belong to the batch of 6,903 earlier condoned.

    “In addition, a total of 1,532 candidates, whose essential defence (though difficult to believe) was that they were not party to the commissioning of the syndicate which helped facilitate their admission letters, are hereby warned and condoned because their institutions had eventually processed their condonement of initially undisclosed admission — a procedure the candidates initially attempted to side-step.”

    JAMB confirmed that 3,300 candidates remain under investigation, as their institutions have not processed their admissions through the legitimate channels.

    “The Board’s screening processes continue and any candidate found to have employed or solicited assistance from examination and certificate fraudsters or deviated from laid down procedures for registration, examination or admission would continue to face the consequences which include prosecution under the Examination Malpractices Act which prescribes appropriate punishment even for the under-aged and their culpable mentors, guardians or parents,” the exam body added.

  • Low turn out as 12,000 candidates sit for mop-up UTME

    Low turn out as 12,000 candidates sit for mop-up UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that more than 80 per cent of the 98,232 candidates eligible for Saturday’s nationwide mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) failed to appear.

    The board attributed the low turn out to intensified security measures targeting impersonators and exam cheats.

    It added that of the 98,232 candidates that registered for the resit examination, only 12,000 plus eventually took the exam.

    JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who monitored the exercise at the Technology CBT Centre in NAF Valley Estate, Abuja, told journalists that turnout was alarmingly low, with only about 12 per cent of registered candidates showing up across the country.

    Oloyede noted that mop-up exams are typically organised for a few thousand candidates with legitimate reasons such as illness or verified technical issues to miss the main UTME.

    He said: “Every year, we do mop-up. And it is normally for about 4,000, 5,000 students; who for illness, for genuine excuse could not take the exam. Or who after review, we saw had technical problems in their centers. This is normally for about 4,000, 5,000. Every year we do that.”

    On the mop-up exam results, he said while they would be ready on Saturday, the board might delay their release till Monday to allow for further scrutiny and removal of suspected fraudulent entries.

    “So that may make us delay till Monday, just to be able to see how many of those criminals we have been able to arrest,” he said.

    The registrar explained that this year’s large mop-up pool was necessitated by allegations of widespread absences in the main examination, saying the Board opted to give everyone a second chance—while also leveraging intelligence gathered from security agencies.

    He added: “In the wisdom of the management and our stakeholders, we felt everybody (who missed the exam) should be given an opportunity. Whether for whatever reason that you did not make it. But again, we also knew that we are wiser.

    “Given the work that we have done in conjunction with the SSS and the police. We have been able to get some intelligence, some information that we could use. To really apprehend those who are impersonating in particular.

    “So we now felt that it’s better to keep the door open as wide as possible. At least to apprehend (impersonators). And then you can see that the performance (turnout) throughout the country is far, far below what you would expect. Those who even indicated coming out of the 90,000, there are about 12,000 plus. Who eventually, who indicated that they were coming.”

    He added that some CBT centres expecting 250 candidates per session recorded fewer than 20 attendees, which he said was anticipated.

    “Because what you have is a bunch of syndicates. Particularly those who say they are tutorial centers. They are some private school proprietors who have become syndicates of examination malpractice,”  Oloyede said, adding that with the determination of the Federal Ministry of Education to lead this war, exam malpractice would be reduced to the barest minimum.

    The JAMB boss also disclosed that some individuals attempted to cheat by falsely declaring themselves as albino in a bid to exploit facial recognition vulnerabilities.

    Oloyede said: “We have never had even up to 100 albinos in any year. But this year you have 1,787 albinos. Those who declared to be albino, 1,787.

    “So, out of 2 million. And we now found out that one centre registered 450 out of this 1,000. As if all albinos in Africa decided to go to that centre.

    “Why are they sourcing a number of albinos? They are not not albinos. It is because the AI that they were using had certain features. That if they do not declare themselves as albino in our form, you will look critically more.

    “Because it makes it reddish. The colour. So, when one of those arrested or one of those in custody now gave information that, look, I will tell you. This is the first step towards it.

    “So, we now go after all those who claimed to be albino. And we found out that all the albinos are less than 250.

    “You can see the black man arrested (in Benin) claiming to be an albino. How do you become albino? But that is one of their strategies. To declare that they are albino. Because what they do in blending is that if you want to impersonate him, they will take a picture of the two of you. And then blend it. When you look at the picture, it will look like you. It will also look like you. That’s what the AI is doing now. It’s picture blending.”

    The registrar emphasized that suspected impersonators who failed to take the exam after alleging exclusion from the main UTME would not escape accountability.

    He stated: “They registered with their name. They have schools. They have NINs.

    “They had their phone number. The security agencies are capable of picking them. And indeed, a number of them are already been picked up.”

    Oloyede also hinted that parents found financing examination malpractice schemes for their children would soon face investigation and possible prosecution.

    Speaking on Direct Entry (DE) admissions, Oloyede revealed that 14 candidates had already been caught presenting forged certificates this year. 

    He lamented the role of educational institutions in enabling the fraud.

    Read Also: UTME 2025: Osilama Abigboa, others raise the bar

    Oloyede said: “A new one that we discovered yesterday in the ongoing registration was that about 20, 30 students who did not go through NCE were being awarded NCE certificates in order to be able to register for Direct Entry.

    “And one of the students who finished from secondary school in 2021, was purportedly admitted to NCE in 2020 in order to graduate in 2023. And the reason simply was that, you know, there was the condoness granted by the then Minister of Education from 2017 to 2020. Those who were illegally admitted, because of their large number, were recommended that let us condone (the illegal admission) because these students, we thought, were likely innocent.

    “So about 1 million of them. So we wanted to clear them. But when we asked them to bring their certificates for clearance, there was no certificate.

    “Some of them who had graduated as a medical doctor are now bringing results in chemistry and biology after graduation. It’s not something you can remedy after graduation. You want to become an engineer, you do it without a credit in Mathematics. After you have been caught, you now say, yes, I’m going to do the GCE. It doesn’t work like that. You ought to have had it before going through the training.

    “So we have a large number of them. So what they are now doing is that they cannot go through with them again, because we have closed the gates. They are now admitting people after 2020.

    “And they are now validating their certificates between 2017 and 2020. There are many institutions involved. But all of them, they will have to pay for it.”

  • Mop-up UTME: JAMB directs candidates to print notification slips

    Mop-up UTME: JAMB directs candidates to print notification slips

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed candidates writing the Mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination today to print their slips.

    The board lamented the low number of candidates who have printed their examination notification slips which will authorise them to sit the upcoming examination.

    It noted that as of yesterday, only 12,442 of the 98,232 scheduled candidates had printed their slips, making 12.6% participation rate.

    JAMB said this in a statement signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja yesterday.

    It added: “We strongly encourage all candidates, particularly those who missed the main examination, to print their notification slips promptly.

    READ ALSO: The Tinubu administration and its malcontents (2)

    “This is a rare opportunity for them to participate in this year’s examination.

    “The Board has scheduled the 2025 UTME mop-up examination for Saturday, 28th June, 2025.

    “We urge all candidates, who missed their previous examinations, to reprint their slips to ensure they do not miss this opportunity.

    “The Board is actively monitoring the printing process to determine the number of candidates who will be present for the examination. “Meanwhile, we have deployed both human and material resources to facilitate this exercise, ensuring that all registered candidates have the opportunity to sit the examination.

    “Please note that failure to print the examination notification slip will result in forfeiture of the opportunity to take the examination.

    “Once again, we urge all candidates to proceed immediately to print their slips for the examination scheduled for tomorrow (today), Saturday, 28th June, 2025.”

  • Top Seven most competitive courses in Nigeria (2025) and their cut-off marks

    Top Seven most competitive courses in Nigeria (2025) and their cut-off marks

    As the race for admission into Nigerian universities grows fiercer, certain courses continue to dominate due to their high demand and limited slots. These programmes not only require top-tier performance in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) UTME but also excellent O’level results.

    In 2025, these seven courses remain the most competitive in Nigeria, drawing thousands of high-performing applicants.

    1. Medicine and Surgery

    Medicine and Surgery consistently ranks as the most competitive course in Nigeria. With thousands aspiring to become doctors and limited admission slots, it remains a top choice.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 280+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

    2. Law

    Law is highly sought-after for the prestige, career opportunities, and societal respect it offers. Admission is tough due to its popularity and limited intake capacity.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 270+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Literature-in-English, Government or History, and other related subjects.

    3. Pharmacy

    Pharmacy attracts candidates seeking a stable, well-paying career in healthcare. With roles in hospitals, industry, and research, it offers excellent job prospects.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 270+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

    Read Also: How to partake in JAMB mop-up exam for candidates who missed UTME

    4. Nursing Science

    Nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions in Nigeria, with global demand and solid financial benefits.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 260+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

    5. Accounting

    Accounting remains a top choice due to its versatility and strong job market. It also provides a pathway to professional qualifications like ICAN and ACCA.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 250+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Economics, Financial Accounting, and any relevant subject.

    6. Computer Science

    As the tech industry booms, Computer Science has become one of the most in-demand courses. Career options range from software development to cybersecurity.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 250+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Studies, and one other science or social science subject.

    7. Economics

    Economics is competitive due to its relevance in both the public and private sectors. Graduates enjoy diverse career paths in banking, policy, and business.

    Expected UTME Cut-Off: 250+

    O’Level Requirements: Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Economics, and two other related subjects like Government, Commerce, or Geography.

  • How to partake in JAMB mop-up exam for candidates who missed UTME

    How to partake in JAMB mop-up exam for candidates who missed UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced Saturday, 28th June 2025, as the date for the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up examination.

    Over two million candidates registered for this year’s UTME, out of which over 1.9 million have already sat the examination.

    Apart from the UTME held in April, JAMB also conducted a rescheduled UTME for over 300,000 candidates in May after it found that a glitch affected their results.

    The glitch affected candidates in 65 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos State and 92 CBT centres across Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.

    A total of 96,838 candidates would be participating in the mop-up exercise.

    It includes 5,096 spill-over candidates, those who experienced biometric verification failures during the main UTME.

    Read Also: 96,838 candidates to write  mop-up UTME exam June 28 – JAMB

    The exercise will also feature 91,742 candidates who were absent during the main and resit examinations.

    The printing of notification slips will begin from Monday, 23rd June 2025. 

    The slip contains their examination centres and the time of examination.

    The exam is expected to take place in 183 centres across the country. 

    JAMB said the first session for the examination day starts at 8 a.m.

    “Candidates for the 8:00 a.m. session are therefore advised in their own interest to arrive one or one and a half hours before the actual commencement of the examination,” it said.

  • 96,838 candidates to write  mop-up UTME exam June 28 – JAMB

    96,838 candidates to write  mop-up UTME exam June 28 – JAMB

    • Suspends 113 CBT centres

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed June 28, for the conduct of a mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 96,838 candidates.

    In a statement yesterday by its Public Communications Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board said the affected candidates can begin printing their examination notification slips from today (June 23).

    The statement said: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has approved Saturday, 28th June for the conduct of the 2025 UTME mop-up examination.

    “This examination will accommodate the 5,096 spill-over candidates and those who failed biometric verification during the main exercise.

    “Also, due to the special dispensation granted to absentee candidates of the main and resit examinations, 91,742 candidates who were absent in both or either of the main and resit examinations would also be given this opportunity which is only for 2025 UTME. Thus 96,838 candidates are being rescheduled for the 2025 mop up exercise in 183 centres across the nation while others are kept on standby.”

    JAMB also said that 113 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the country have been suspended or delisted due to various infractions uncovered during the conduct of the UTME.

    According to the board, some of the affected centres were found to have committed technical infractions during the mock and main examinations, while others were implicated in ongoing security investigations into examination malpractice.

    “Consequently, 113 CBT centres have been delisted or suspended from across the country. Some other implicated in multiple infractions in the main or resit examinations exercise,” it said.

    The board expressed appreciation to security agencies for their role in a nationwide investigation into identity theft and other forms of examination fraud, which has led to several arrests and prosecutions.

    As part of the investigation, the Board said some examination towns have been disqualified from hosting the mop-up exam , adding that affected candidates will be reassigned to nearby centres.

    The statement said: “The Board also appreciated the security agencies particularly the State Security Service(SSS), the Nigeria Police Force(NPF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) for their extra-ordinary devotion, passion and tenacity in the on-going nation-wide special investigation of identity theft and examination malpractices syndicates which led to the arrest and prosecution of tens of culprits, including few JAMB officials, professional examination takers and syndicates of some school proprietors and tutorial centres.

    Read Also: Renewed Hope: NDDC plans retreat, agric summit for Niger Delta

    “As a result of the investigation, a number of examination towns are no longer eligible to be used for the mop up examinations. Few candidates who fall into the deactivated examination towns would be assigned to examination towns closest to the delisted towns. We seek the understanding of such candidates.”

    JAMB  stated that the mop-up exam offers an opportunity to identify and prosecute more impersonators, including undergraduates who sit for UTME on behalf of others.

    “The scheduled mop up examination provides the opportunity to further apprehend more impersonators particularly current undergraduate students who impersonate UTME candidates. Institutions of apprehended undergraduates are already being notified of the gross misconduct of their students in order to invoke the violation of the matriculation oath already taken by the students to flush them out of the various tertiary institutions, in addition to their prosecution under the examination malpractice Act, 1999 which makes provisions for imprisonment even of the under-aged and their indulgent parents,” it said.

    JAMB also revealed that it is deploying special squads of invigilators and security personnel as part of the renewed crackdown on malpractice.

    “Special squads of invigilators/security personnel are being deployed in the continuation of the current war already declared by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, on examination malpractices and their perpetrators both high and low,” adding that candidates sitting for the 8:00 a.m. session are advised to arrive early.“The first session for the examination day starts, as usual, at 8:00am. Candidates for the 8:00am session are therefore advised in their own interest to arrive one or one and half hour before the actual commencement of the examination at 8:00am.

    “Eligible and genuine candidates are advised to print their examination notification slips from Monday, 23rd June 2025 in preparation for the mop up examination scheduled for Saturday, 28th June, 2025,” the statement added.

  • 2025 UTME registration: 11 CBT centres to face sanction over fingerprints irregularities – JAMB

    2025 UTME registration: 11 CBT centres to face sanction over fingerprints irregularities – JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has recommended tough penalties for 11 Computer‑Based Test (CBT) centres and their registrants involved in fingerprint irregularities during registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made this known after a brainstorming session with some critical stakeholders following a meeting with the affected CBT centres and registrants on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The JAMB boss stated that the measures, which still require the approval of the Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, are intended to protect the integrity of the examination process.

    JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, who read the recommendations of the meeting said: “The leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board with some critical stakeholders here recommends as follows: That any registrant who has registered more than 50 candidates (with infractions) should be dismissed from participating in any activities of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation  Board.

    “And what that means is that such a person will not participate in any UTME exercise, will not be registered for the UTME even as a student, and will not be allowed to participate in any of the sister examinations, be it WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB,  and this is to be for three years.

    “The suspension is to stay for three years. After three years, the Board will revisit it and look at the issue. If the registrant has shown any remorse, such a suspension could be lifted.

    “And others who have registered less than 50 will be warned, and they will be required to write a letter of apology to the Board after issuing a bond, indicating that they will not be involved in such a thing again.

    “Then, for CBT centres, all CBT centres involved are to be warned, and then they will be asked to sign a bond. And besides the bond, they will also be required to give evidence of the training of their registrants.

    “And that training should be anchored by any of the federal universities within their vicinity. That training should be anchored by the appropriate department of the university within its vicinity.”

    Oloyede said the Board will not entertain any infraction from the affected centres in the future, despite their claim of ignorance, hence the need for them to undergo necessary training in federal universities closest to them before they can be re-engaged by JAMB.

    He added, “We will not allow any of these centres to do anything with us until they bring a certificate, a letter from a federal institution closest to that centre that their staff had been trained on ethical standards.

    “But for the centres, those that are owned by the federal government, the reports will be made to the authorities that this is what your agency did.”

    Earlier, most of the affected registrants and some CBT operators who confessed engaging in candidate’s finger contribution during the registration process, hinged the act on ignorance or the need to get more people registered in their centres, even as many broke down in tears and pleaded for leniency.

    One of the stakeholders at the meeting and former Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the actions of the affected registrants warrant prosecution and possible jail term.

    He appealed to JAMB to forgive and make them sign undertaking not to engage in  such infraction in future.

    Earlier, an official of Jicoras CBT Centre, Bashir Gumel, said the centre has already commenced an internal probe on the involvement of its registrants, saying the outcome will be forwarded to JAMB.

    Gumel said, “We have summoned all of them to come here and we have heard what they have done. And they have confessed that.  To retain the integrity of our institution, this will not go like that. They have to be punished.

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    “And we promise that the action that will be taken will be shared with the JAMB office. And in that regard, again, our centre is not an established centre. We are in the catchment area where there are very few CBT centres.

    “Because this is our first time, and we were not aware of such an occurrence. We promised that this will never occur again.”

    The affected CBT centres that were invited for the meeting are Misau Emirate ICT Centre, Misau, Bauchi State,  Ijaw National Academy, Kiama, Bayelsa State, Directorate of ICT Nigerian Army University, Biu, Gombe State, Emerald IT Academy Limited, Benin City, Edo State, Tigh Technologies, Sascon International School, Maitama, Abuja, Jicoras CBT Centre, Babura, Jigawa State and Huntsville Technology Limited, Anthony, Lagos State.

    Others are Jolas College CBT Centre, Obalende, Lagos, Abdul Ocean Wealth CBT Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Wase, Plateau State and the Consulate Salle D’Examen CBT Centre, By Jonny Lane/Navy Barrack Agip Estate, Rivers State.