The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its swift and transparent handling of the technical glitches that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a letter addressed to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, NANS expressed its intention to actively monitor the upcoming retake exams for affected candidates, aligning with its mission to protect the interests of Nigerian students and promote transparency in the educational system.

The letter, signed by NANS National President Olushola Oladoja and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, praised the board's decision to offer retake opportunities as a demonstration of commitment to fairness and academic integrity.

“We write to commend the Board for its timely and transparent decision to conduct a retake of the 2025 UTME for candidates affected by technical and administrative issues across six states. This move is a commendable demonstration of your commitment to justice, fairness, and the integrity of Nigeria’s education system,” the letter read.

Oladoja emphasized that the association’s involvement in monitoring the retake is crucial for maintaining transparency and ensuring a fair process, adding that NANS has nominated student leaders to serve as official supervisors in each of the six affected states.

The nominated supervisors, described as "responsible student leaders with proven records of discipline and diligence," include:

• Abia State: Dr. Mike Ifenke and Frank Eme-Orji

• Anambra State: Ikechukwu Santos and Ebube Ijeoma

• Ebonyi State: Ibeabuchi Onya and Olisa Nwuruku

• Enugu State: Chidi Nzekwe and Minister Udochukwu

• Imo State: Chinaemerem Emesowum and Chidiebere Aguocha

• Lagos State: Afeez Akinteye and Busari Adelaja

This comes on the heels of a press conference in Abuja where Prof. Oloyede publicly admitted to technical errors that compromised the integrity of the results in 157 centres, affecting the scores of 379,997 candidates. Fighting back tears, the JAMB Registrar took full responsibility for the oversight, emphasizing the board’s commitment to correcting the errors.

As these retake exams approach, many are left wondering whether this gesture will restore public confidence in the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system. Will this step by JAMB truly address the concerns of affected students, or does it merely scratch the surface of a deeper problem within the education sector?

What do you think – is JAMB's response enough to restore trust, or is more needed to fix the cracks in the system? Share your thoughts.