JAMB

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Fatima Alkali Saleh, a bright student from Yobe State, has been awarded a full scholarship by Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori, Chairman of ThinkLab Group, after scoring an impressive 336 in the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam.

The scholarship covers her tuition and essential academic tools, including a laptop and technical drawing instruments, supporting her ambition to study architecture.

Dr. Kori praised Fatima’s dedication, stating that her excellence aligns with ThinkLab Group’s vision of empowering future leaders.

Fatima expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunity, vowing to give back to her community. Her achievement stands as an inspiration for students across Nigeria.

By Anwar Usman

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said the registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has now been shifted to Monday, February 3, 2025, instead of Friday, January 31, 2025, as earlier slated.

The Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He said the change was necessary to allow the Board to implement essential adjustments to its registration templates.

“These adjustments came in light of the recent suspension of certain law programmes at selected universities, as submitted to the Board by the Council for Legal Education.

“Additionally, the Board discovered that some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres had used deceptive facilities to be approved, prompting the need for further scrutiny and corrections by disapproving such centres”.

He further stated, “The Board acknowledges the disruption this may cause to candidates and other stakeholders and sincerely apologises for any inconvenience”.

He said the additional time would be used to ensure that all necessary changes were implemented for a smooth registration process.

By Uzair Adam

A former deputy director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mr. Yisa Usman, has alleged that his life is under threat due to his efforts to expose corruption within the board.

Usman made the claim during cross-examination before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae at the National Industrial Court in Abuja, where he is challenging his dismissal from JAMB, which he claims was unlawful.

Responding to questions from JAMB’s counsel, A. A. Owonikoko, Usman admitted writing petitions to various government agencies, including the National Assembly, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and anti-corruption bodies, alleging financial mismanagement under the current registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

Usman also acknowledged receiving queries from the board and an invitation to appear before a disciplinary committee prior to his dismissal.

While admitting to responding to the queries, he stated that he rejected the composition of the committee due to alleged bias.

“My Lord, I informed the committee that I could not trust its fairness as it comprised individuals implicated in the infractions I reported,” he said, denying claims that he refused to appear before the committee.

He further testified that he informed JAMB’s directors of his concerns through an email message dated May 18, 2023, in which he reiterated his resolve to fight corruption within the organization.

“The fight against corruption and abuse of authority is a responsibility of every Nigerian. My determination remains unshaken, despite the threats and attempts to intimidate me,” he told the court.

Usman also alleged that he had reported threats to his life to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police, claiming that if anything happened to him, the registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Mufutau Bello, should be held responsible.

During the proceedings, Usman denied accusations that the criminal charges filed against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja were related to investigations into his allegations, stating that the charges were unrelated to the audit of JAMB’s finances conducted by the current registrar.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae admitted several documents submitted by Usman’s counsel, Mohammed Shuaibu, as evidence, while reserving JAMB’s right to challenge their admissibility.

The court adjourned the case to February 27 for JAMB to present its defense.

It would be recalled that Usman has filed a N150 million lawsuit against JAMB, seeking reinstatement, full entitlements, and the nullification of his dismissal.

He has also requested a declaration that the disciplinary committee was improperly constituted and unable to guarantee him a fair hearing.

The case, marked NICN/ABJ/266/2023, remains ongoing.

By Ahmed Rufa’i Shehu

Although unprepared for this, I am excited to celebrate a renowned educational and religious scholar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede (JAMB Registrar), for his successful retirement from the University of Ilorin. 

Prof. Oyedele has left the famous University of Ilorin after spending meritorious years as a lecturer. This led to his appointment as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

Prof. Oloyede is undoubtedly one of the people who made the University of Ilorin one of the best in Nigeria and Africa. The send-forth dinner was very colourfully organised.

Although Prof. Oyedele has retired from active university teaching, he still contributes his quota to the tertiary education sector. The ancient city of Ilorin was alive with celebrations for Prof. Oloyede.

One need not mention the innovations he has brought to the conduct of the JAMB examination and the running of the board’s affairs, including the welfare of the staff. It’s a blessing to have him as a boss. His unwavering support for his staff will not be overemphasised. Therefore, for me, the University of Ilorin should grieve after losing this astute Scholar. 

It took me eight years to understand his policies despite my beliefs and doubts, but I have concluded that Professor Ishaq Oloyede means Discipline and Integrity.

Happy Birthday and Happy Retirement, Sir

By Uzair Adam 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has initiated the accreditation of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in preparation for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced the commencement of the accreditation exercise in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing its importance in ensuring a smooth examination process.

The statement urged new CBT centres interested in participating in the 2025 UTME to review the requirements provided on JAMB’s official website. 

According to the statement, prospective centres must be able to familiarize themselves with the outlined standards by visiting the JAMB portal and submitting a formal notification of interest to the Registrar through the respective Zonal Director or State Coordinator.

Established centres that were accredited for the 2024 UTME and operated without issues are required to register their interest via the Centre Management System (CMS) Portal. 

For new centres, JAMB’s Zonal and State Offices will assist in creating accounts on the CMS Portal to facilitate their registration. 

“All centres must complete the mandatory Autobot/Autotest on a date to be announced as part of their preparation for the physical accreditation visit by the Board’s team,” the statement noted.

Dr Benjamin highlighted that only centres that successfully pass the Autobot/Autotest and meet JAMB’s stipulated standards would proceed to the next stage of the accreditation process. 

The physical accreditation exercise is set to commence in December 2024, with notifications sent only to qualifying centres.

JAMB reiterated that centres failing to meet the required standards during the Autobot/Autotest will not be considered for inclusion in the 2025 UTME registration and examination.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Delta State High Court in Warri has issued an order restraining the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from implementing its policy requiring a minimum age of 16 for university admissions. 

Justice Anthony Akpovi granted the relief, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed against JAMB. 

JAMB’s directive, announced on October 16, stated that only candidates aged 16 by August 2025 would be admitted to tertiary institutions.

However, this policy was challenged by John Aikpokpo-Martins, a former Nigerian Bar Association chairman. 

Aikpokpo-Martins sued JAMB and Edwin Clark University on behalf of candidates born between September 1 and December 31, 2009, who passed the 2024 JAMB exams.

The court granted an interim injunction, preserving the admission rights of these candidates. 

Justice Akpovi ruled, “Reliefs 1 and 2 are hereby granted. The status quo to be maintained is the admission list prior to this circular pending the hearing of the originating motion.” 

This development halts JAMB’s implementation of the minimum age requirement until further court proceedings.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government has reversed its earlier decision, announcing that 16-year-olds can now be admitted into tertiary institutions.

Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman had initially directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to only admit candidates who are 18 years or older.

However, stakeholders at a policy meeting organized by JAMB in Abuja objected to this decision, arguing that it is illogical to deny admission to 16-year-old students who have passed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and JAMB exams.

Following this feedback, the minister accepted the stakeholders’ suggestions and announced that candidates aged 16 and above would be eligible for admission this year, while the new policy would take effect from next year.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Here are the steps to check your JAMB score:

– Online Method:

– Visit the JAMB eFacility Portal at https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/login.

– Enter your login details (email address and password you used during registration).

– Click on the “Check UTME Results” button.

– Your UTME score for each subject will be displayed on the screen.

– SMS Method:

– Open your messaging app. – Compose a new message.

– Type “RESULT” (all caps) followed by your JAMB Registration Number.

– Send the SMS to 55019 or 66019 (the official JAMB result from SMS numbers). – JAMB will send a reply SMS containing your scores for each subject taken.

Remember to note that the SMS method incurs a charge of N50, which will be deducted from your mobile phone airtime.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken disciplinary action against an official in Lagos who directed a female candidate to remove her hijab during the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

The incident occurred at Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop in Ejigbo, Lagos, during the accreditation process, causing controversy.

The candidate was told to remove her hijab, a head covering worn by some Muslim women, before being allowed to sit the examination. 

JAMB condemned the official’s action in a statement issued on Sunday, saying: “We were made aware of an unfortunate incident where a candidate wearing a hijab was asked to remove her headcover during accreditation before entering the examination hall.” 

The board reaffirmed its commitment to selecting suitably qualified candidates for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and assured that it would not allow any distractions from this goal. 

The 2024 UTME, which began on Friday, April 19, 2024, has been smooth, with over 1.2 million candidates successfully taking the examination by Monday. 

According to JAMB’s spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, “The Board is dedicated to fulfilling its statutory role and will not allow anything or anyone to hinder its pursuit of this noble goal.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has officially commenced its Post-University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) Admissions Screening Exercise for the upcoming 2023–2024 Academic Session. 

The announcement was made by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Jamilu M. Magaji, during a press briefing held at the institution’s Main Campus in Birnin Kebbi on Monday. 

This highly anticipated screening exercise is set to span five days, running from Monday, September 25th, to Friday, September 29th, 2023.

Candidates from various academic faculties will undergo this rigorous evaluation process to secure their positions at FUBK. 

To streamline the screening process, the university has divided the candidates into groups based on their respective faculties. 

On Monday and Tuesday, candidates from the Faculty of Science and the College of Health Sciences will be screened.

Wednesday is reserved for candidates from the Faculties of Art and Social and Management Sciences, while Thursday and Friday will see candidates from the Faculties of Environmental Sciences and Education undergo their assessments. 

Muhammad Atiku, a candidate pursuing a B.Sc. in Geology, praised the screening exercise, emphasising its focus on academic and moral standards. 

Atiku’s sentiments echoed the positive feedback from other candidates, such as Hauwa Salihu Adamu, a Department of Microbiology applicant, who described the process as “perfect” and an excellent opportunity for interaction with fellow applicants from across the nation. 

The Federal University Birnin Kebbi, established in 2013, is a federal government-owned institution with a strong commitment to academic excellence. 

Currently, the university boasts three campuses and offers a wide array of academic programmes, including thirty-seven undergraduate and twenty postgraduate programmes, making it a preferred choice for aspiring scholars in Nigeria. 

As the screening exercise unfolds over the next five days, candidates are eager to showcase their qualifications and secure their places at FUBK, contributing to the university’s legacy of academic excellence and growth.