The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) advises Nigerians to verify claims of excellent performance in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) before awarding scholarships. JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, emphasised this point while interacting with media executives over the weekend.
The Importance of Verification
Professor Oloyede highlighted the necessity of seeking clarification from JAMB before offering awards, citing fraudulent claims of excellence made by some candidates. He specifically referred to Ms. Mmesoma Ejikeme and other candidates who manipulated their scores to obtain undue public favour.
Addressing Concerns About Publishing Top Performers
While answering questions about JAMB’s reluctance to publish the names of the best-performing candidates, the Registrar clarified that the UTME is primarily a ranking examination for candidates who have secured at least five O’level credit passes in English Language and Mathematics, making them eligible for tertiary education. However, he explained that other parameters also influence the minimum admissible score required for tertiary admission.
Complex Admission Standards
Given the different variables that various institutions use, Oloyede acknowledged that it is nearly impossible to establish a single score or universal parameters to determine candidates with the highest admissible scores. He noted that gaining admission remains JAMB’s ultimate goal.
A Call for Verification
Due to the public demand for clarity and to prevent a repeat of the Mmesoma incident, JAMB will offer guidance to those wishing to reward high-performing students. The board urges everyone to verify candidate claims before awarding scholarships, maintaining integrity and preventing fraudulent cases in future.
