Second Chance for UTME Candidates: JAMB Announces Mop-Up Exam

Good news for students who missed the recent 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)! The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a special "mop-up" exam to give over 5.6% of candidates who were absent another chance.

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the head of JAMB, shared this update at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. He made it clear that this new opportunity is for all affected candidates, no matter why they missed the first exam.

"We are creating a new mop-up," Professor Oloyede explained. "Even those who missed the earlier exam because they weren't there will get another chance. It's not something out of the ordinary. In any serious system, when students miss an exam, they're allowed to make it up – as long as it's not abused."

He also stressed that the UTME is simply a way to place students into limited university spots, not a test of how smart someone is. "Its purpose is to rank candidates for limited admission slots, not to test how smart someone is," he clarified.

Addressing some of the complaints and theories circulating about the exam, Professor Oloyede firmly denied any claims of unfairness due to ethnic bias or mistakes by the administration.

"I take responsibility, not because I failed, but because that's what leadership is about," he stated. "I didn't even realize people were looking at issues around me through the lens of ethnicity. We need to get past such ways of thinking."

Professor Oloyede also praised both the students and the JAMB staff for their strength in dealing with difficulties during the exam. "We had limited space. We knew if we spent more time complaining about the problems, students would lose their opportunity," he said.

The special mop-up exam dates will be announced soon. JAMB says it is committed to being fair and clear in the admission process.

What This Means for Students and the System:

This decision by JAMB offers a significant lifeline to thousands of students who, for various reasons, couldn't sit for the initial exam. It highlights the board's flexibility and commitment to ensuring that no deserving candidate is left behind, even when faced with the logistical challenges of organizing an exam for such a large population.

The Registrar's emphasis on the UTME as a ranking tool, rather than a measure of intelligence, also provides an important perspective on the exam's true purpose. This could help to reduce some of the pressure and anxiety associated with the test.

Furthermore, Professor Oloyede's direct address to criticisms about ethnic bias and administrative issues is a crucial step towards building trust and transparency. By taking responsibility and urging a shift away from profiling, JAMB aims to reassure the public of its impartiality. The acknowledgment of "limited space" and the quick actions taken to avoid further delays also shed light on the immense logistical hurdles JAMB navigates annually. This mop-up exam, therefore, isn't just about giving second chances; it's also a demonstration of JAMB's ongoing efforts to adapt and improve its processes for the benefit of all Nigerian students.

Posted on: Sat May 24 2025 Back to posts