 has declared a new mop-up exercise to accommodate over 5.6% of students who){kind=link}
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has declared a new mop-up exercise to accommodate over 5.6% of students who missed the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made this known on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
He explained that all absentees, regardless of the reasons behind their absence, will be eligible for the rescheduled examination.
“This time, we’re introducing a broader mop-up exam. Even those who simply didn’t show up will be given another shot,” Oloyede stated.
“It’s standard practice in any organized system to offer make-up tests when students miss exams—so long as it’s not exploited.”
Clarifying the purpose of the UTME, Oloyede reminded stakeholders that the exam isn’t designed to gauge intelligence but to serve as a ranking system for admission into higher institutions.
Responding to public criticism and unfounded accusations, he dismissed notions of ethnic favoritism or poor management, saying, “Leadership means accepting responsibility—not necessarily because there was a failure. I wasn’t aware some saw these matters through an ethnic lens. That’s not productive.”
He also commended candidates and JAMB personnel for their perseverance despite limited facilities and logistical hurdles.
“We had to move forward. Dwelling on the difficulties would have cost students their chance,” he concluded.
The board promised to release details of the mop-up exam schedule soon and reaffirmed its commitment to fairness and openness in the admission process.