Nigerians were stunned when the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reported that 78% of candidates who took the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored below 200.

This poor performance sparked widespread concern. Citizens challenged JAMB, and many expressed outrage over the results.

In my opinion, the strong reaction was justified. The public uproar was loud enough to compel JAMB to conduct a review of the exam process ahead of schedule.

On Wednesday, May 14, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a press conference in Abuja, disclosed that an investigation revealed technical errors during the conduct of the 2025 UTME.

He stated, “Today is a day we will remember – what should have been a moment of celebration for our most successful UTME has been tarnished by a preventable mistake made by one or two individuals.”

Prof. Oloyede elaborated that 65 centres (206,610 candidates) in Lagos State and 92 centres (173,387 candidates) in the Owerri zone, covering the South East, were affected. He explained that in trying to fix the issue, technical personnel from the Service Provider for Lagos and the South East zones failed to update some delivery servers. This oversight went unnoticed before the results were released.

In an emotional moment, the Registrar tearfully accepted full responsibility for the staff's negligence and apologized for the distress caused to the candidates. He assured that all 379,997 affected candidates would be allowed to retake the examination, and JAMB has already begun implementing corrective measures.

As expected, the revelation drew mixed reactions. Some commended Prof. Oloyede for his openness and for taking responsibility, a rare trait among public officials. Others, however, criticized him and called for the abolition of JAMB.

One group that praised Oloyede is the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which wrote, “We commend the Board's prompt and transparent decision to conduct a retake for affected candidates across six states. This action reflects your dedication to justice, fairness, and the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.”

Reno Omokri, a social media personality, also expressed strong support. He said, “I deeply respect JAMB for acknowledging their error and taking responsibility. The Registrar not only accepted fault but also initiated steps to make amends.”

Omokri continued, “It is rare for public institutions to admit mistakes. Many critics fail to appreciate the exceptional accountability demonstrated by Prof. Oloyede. Ask yourself: how many politicians or public figures have ever publicly owned up to their failures?”

However, criticism also came from figures like Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo of the NNPP, who condemned the situation as a national embarrassment.

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili also weighed in via X (formerly Twitter), questioning why authorities didn’t conduct a prompt and impartial review once anomalies were detected. She criticized both the Ministry of Education and JAMB for relying on anecdotal and dismissive explanations of the unusual results, particularly in the South East.

Ezekwesili argued that technical issues should be treated with professionalism, lamenting the lack of it due to the influence of incompetent and dishonest officials.

While diverse opinions are healthy in national discourse, it is unfortunate that some have introduced ethnic bias into the conversation. It is disheartening that issues in Nigeria are often viewed through an ethnic lens. There are those who believe Oloyede holds a bias against a specific region.

But one must ask: why would a man who has successfully led JAMB for years without major regional incidents suddenly target the South East? What would be his motive? And if there was bias, why was Lagos – predominantly Yoruba – also affected?

Although Oloyede is not flawless, he has a track record of reform within JAMB.

Before his 2016 appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari, JAMB was headed by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, also a Yoruba man. In March 2021, Ojerinde was arrested by the ICPC on allegations of embezzling N5.2 billion and was re-arrested in 2023, with his children also facing corruption charges.

In contrast, Oloyede is credited with enhancing service delivery, accountability, and transparency within JAMB.

For instance, between 2010 and 2016, JAMB remitted about N50 million to the government. But under Oloyede, the board remitted N5 billion in 2017 alone.

Is Oloyede perfect? No. But he has overseen UTME processes with significantly improved integrity.

Perhaps it was a desire to protect that legacy that led him to apologize so sincerely for the 2025 UTME issues.

I find it difficult to accept claims of ethnic bias. Since taking over at JAMB, he has not shown discriminatory tendencies. It’s even possible that internal saboteurs created the error to undermine his credibility.

Who can say for sure?

While public officials should always be held accountable, it must be done responsibly. JAMB must take steps to prevent future occurrences. This kind of failure should never happen again.